CHAPTER 11: RACE

RACE/ETHNIC RACE AND ETHNICITY  IS ONE WAY OF STRATIFYING  PEOPLE AND ALSO
REFLECTS CULTURAL COMPOSITION.

A MINORITY  GROUP IS ANY SUBORDINANT GROUP WHOSE MEMBER HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY 
SLESS CONTROL OR POWER  OVER THEIR OWN LIVES THAN THE MEMBER OF A 
DOMINANT OR MAJORITY GROUP HAVE OVER THEIRS. 
A "MAJORITY" GROUP CAN  STILL BE A "MINORITY"  (WOMEN)
  WHY?  BECAUSE IT'S NOT  SIMPLY NUMBERS OF MEMBERS, BUT A RESOURCE RATIO.
 
CHARACTERISTICS:
   1.  MINORITY  MEMBER SHARE PHYSICAL OR  CULTURL CHARACTERISTICS 
       THAT DISTINGUISH THEM  FROM THE DOMINANT GROUP
   2.  EXPERIENCE UNEQUAL  TREATMENT AND HAVE LESS POWER OVER
       THEIR LIVES
   3.  MEMBERSHIP NOT "VOLUNTARY" (GAYS, WOMEN, ETC)
   4.  STRONG SENSE OF GROUP SOLIDARITY
   5.  MEMBERS GENERALLY MARRY OTHERS FROM SAME GROUP
   6.  USUALLY STIGMATIZED (ADDED TO SCHAEFER LIST)

EXAMPLES:

RACE:   BIOLOGICAL DEF:   CATORY OF PEOLE WHO  THROUGH MANY
        GENERATIONS  OF INBREEDING HAVE DEVEOPED COMMON PHYSICAL
        CHARACTERISTICS FROM OTHER OTHER HUMANS.   (BLACKS,
        GYPSIES, ITINERANTS)

SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE:  OFFERS IDENTIFIABLE MEANS TO DISCRIMINATE
(EG, GAYS DON'T HAVE THIS; WHO ELSE?)

SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY: (LABELLING)---BEGINS TO TAKE ON
CHARACTERISTCS ATTRIBUTED TO THEM (EG, UNFRIENDLINESS) ETC
(See figure 10-2, page 266 - Relative economic positions - good quiz q

ETHNICITY:  NOT A RACIAL CATEGORY---CAN BE NATIONALITY (eg, IRISH)

WHY DO WE STUDY IT AND HOW?

1. POWER/INEQUALITY
2. SOCIAL PROBLEMS CREATED AND CAN BE RESOLVED
3. THEORIES:
   A) CONFLICT: EXPLOITATION THEORY
   B) INTERACTIONIST--"CONTACT HYOTHESIS"--STIGMA REDUCED THROUGH CONTACT--

Some Definitions:

STIGMA: PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION

PREJUDICE--NEGATIVE  ATTITUDE TOWARD AN ENTIRE CATEGORY

REGARDLESS OF INDIVIDUAL  ATTTRIBUTES (ANTI-"COLORED" DRS)

ETHNOCENTRISM---OUR CULTURE SUPERIOUR

SCAPEGOATING (BLAMING A RACE (OR OTHERS)

APARTHEID - Maintaining the separation of blacks and other non-whites
            as  official policy

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Positive efforts to recruit minority group members or
              women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities

ETHNIC GROUP: A group set apart from others because of its national origin
              or distinctive cultural patterns
 
AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY (F-SCALE)---
  A) ORDER
  B) RACISM, ETC

DISCRIMINATION---DENYING OPPORTUNITIES TO CERTAIN CATEGORIES
  TYPES:

   A) PERSONAL
   B) INSTITUTIONAL/STRUCTURAL--IE,  SOCIETY  SET-UP OR ORGANIZED IN A
       WAY THAT EXCLUDES SOME FROM POWER

ASSIMILATION/ACCOMODATION/PLURALISM

   EXPLAIN EACH--

THEORIES: (EXPLAIN PURPOSE OF THEORY AGAIN):
  A) CONFLICT: EXPLOITATION/"COLONIAL GROUPS" ETC

  B) INTERACTIONIST:  CONTACT (KNOWING PEOPLE
     DECREASES PREJUDICE; LABELLING, ETC

WHY ARE PEOPLE PREJUDICED? (SOCIAL PSYCH)--

  A) AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY / ADORNO & F-SCALE
     SCAPEGOATING (BLAMING OTHERS) JEWS, ETC

  B) STRUCTURE: BUILT-IN DISCRIMINATION, ETC

  C) *AMALGAMATION* MAJORITY GROUP & MINORITY  GROUP COMBINE 
     TO FORM (NEW GROUP.

     EXAMPLES: A) US--MELTING POT?
               B) STUDENTS
               C) SCHAEFFER USES BOUNTY/POLYNESIAN

PLURALISM:  SUBORDINATE GROUP  DOESN'T REJECT LIFE-STYLE---IS
BASED ON"SEPARATE BUT EQUAL" NOTION.

RACE IN THE US:
   A) BLACKS
   B) INDIANS
   C) ORIENTALS
   D) LATINOS/HISPANICS
   E) JEWS

POLICY ISSUES:
1. IS IT A PROBLEM? WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?
   A) BUSING
   B) CIVIL RIGHT LAW
   C) AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
   D) "SELF-HELP"
   E) "HELP POLICIES" (IE, GOV'T BASED)
 
 

Return to JT's homepage