White Ethnics & Others - Salisbury University



Lecture Outline: White Ethnics & Others

Issues for Group Discussion:

1. How did European immigrants come to be seen as “white”? What is White Privilege? (Schaefer 114-129)

2. What is “Symbolic Ethnicity” & how does it affect their lives (or not) – friends, marriage, housing, jobs, etc.? What is the “principle of third generation interest”? (Schaefer 114-129)

3. What have been some of the key experiences and trends for the German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Jewish And Arab Americans as immigrants and in subsequent generations? (Schaefer 114-129, Ch. 11 & Ch. 14)

• How treated upon arrival – prejudice & discrimination? How has religious difference served as target of hostility?

• How did ethnic-immig. neighborhoods, religious bodies & schools, & social & self-help groups aid their adjustment to US & assimilation?

• Socio-Economic Status of each group -- Early on vs. Now, etc.

4. What sorts of diversity is there among Arab Americans (& also Muslim Americans)? How & why are political issues especially relevant for Arab Americans, esp. in recent years? (Schaefer, Ch 11)

5. What is role of anti-Semitism in creating ethnic Jewish solidarity & identity? Can one be non-religious & have strong Jewish Identity? What is effect of assimilation on Jewish identity (Schaefer, ch. 14)?

6. How have Arab and Jewish Americans experienced prejudice & discrimination in current era (Schaefer Ch. 11, Ch. 14;)? What role has Middle East conflicts?

7. Are Arab and Jewish Americans minority groups? In terms of SES & Ed? In terms of how treated – prejudice & discrimination?

Lecture & key points from Group Discussion Report-In:

Whiteness—Who is white? How were many European immigrant groups viewed by US whites when they arrived, as white? Key role of assimilation & social distance from other subordinate groups

How did European immigrant groups become white over time? Role of assimilation over generations, & prejudice & discrimination against other groups… (Schaefer 114-129)

White Privilege (Schaefer 114-129)

Symbolic Ethnicity [Optional ethnicity] for white ethnics – celebratory & optional,voluntary, but not affect daily life or life chances / opportunities (re; housing, jobs, friends, marriage, etc.). Not available/optional for all ethnicities and races, esp. for non-whites… (Schaefer 114-129)

Three Generation Cycle to Assimilation

Role of prejudice & discrimination in stimulating in-group solidarity & ethnic identity (esp. for Jewish Americans, Schaefer ch. 14)

Stereotypes about Jewish people not true… (Schaefer ch. 14)

Can one be non-religious & have strong Jewish Identity? What is effect of assimilation on Jewish identity (Schaefer, ch. 14)?

Are Jewish Americans and Arab Americans minority groups? In terms of SES & Ed? In terms of how treated – prejudice & discrimination? Any differences in experience for the two groups in current era, esp. Arab Americans? I answered this in class, a bit differently from Schaefer text.

Also Know:

Item # 3 on Group Discussion Issues to consider (know some basic history for German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Jewish, and Arab immigrant groups, similarities and differences in US (Schaefer114-129, Chs. 11 & 14)

Principle of 3rd generation Interest (Schaefer 114-129)

Assimilation overall – yes for most white ethnics (Germans, Irish, Italians, Polish) (Schaefer 114-129) , but not fully for all – esp. not for Jewish and Arab Americans. For latter 2 groups, lots of assimilation re: SES success, but not entirely re; prejudice & discrimination experienced (Schaefer, ch. 11, ch. 14). Still minority groups to some extent

& note similarities between Jewish and Arab Americans (Schaefer, ch. 11, ch. 14).

Esp. re: prejudice and discrimination against each group…

Racial Profiling of Arabs & hostility directed toward Arab Americans in recent years, post 9-11 (Ch. 11 Schaefer)

Note difference between Arab and Muslim – the 2 terms are not synonymous (Schaefer, ch. 11)

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