RACE AND ETHNICITY

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RACE AND ETHNICITY

• Chapter 5 Race and Ethnicity - Sociology

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Race Myth and Reality

• Race A group of people with inherited physical
  characteristics (skin color, hair texture, eye
  hues) that distinguish it from another group.
• Myths About Race
• Some races are superior to other races
• A pure race exists

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Race Myth and Reality

• Genocide The attempt to destroy a group of
  people because of their race or ethnicity.
• Ex Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust
• Ex Hutus vs. Tutsis in Rwanda
• Race is arbitrary biologists cant agree on how
  many races exist

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Ethnic Groups

• Ethnicity Having distinctive cultural
  characteristics
• Ethnic groups identify with each other on common
  ancestry and cultural heritage
• Nation of Origin
• Food
• Clothing
• Language
• Music
• Religion

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Ethnic Groups

• Race and ethnicity are often confused
• Ex Jews are an ethnic group, not a race

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Minority Groups and Dominant Groups

• Minority Group People who are singled out for
  unequal treatment and who regard themselves as
  objects of collective discrimination.
• Minorities share several conditions worldwide
• Their physical or cultural traits are held in low
  esteem by the dominant group
• They are treated unfairly by the dominant group
• They tend to marry within their own group

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Minority Groups and Dominant Groups

• The conditions in which minority groups live tend
  to create a sense of identity (we-ness) and
  common destiny.
• Minority groups are not necessarily numerical
  minorities
• Ex British discrimination against Indians in
  India
• Ex Dutch discrimination (apartheid) against
  blacks in South Africa

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Minority Groups and Dominant Groups

• Dominant Group The group with the most power,
  greatest privileges, and highest social status.
• Often possesses political power
• Unified by shared cultural traits

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Minority Groups and Dominant Groups

• A group becomes a minority in one of two ways
• Through the expansion of political boundaries
• Ex The U.S. taking over Mexico in 1848
• Through migration (voluntary or involuntary)
• Ex Mexicans coming to the United States
• Ex African slaves being brought to the United
  States

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Constructing Racial-Ethnic Identity
Heightened Sense of Ethnicity

• Smaller Numbers
• Lesser Power
• Different from National Identity
• Discrimination

Low Sense of Ethnicity

• Part of the Majority
• Greater Power
• Similar to National Identity
• No discrimination