Minority, Race and Ethnicity



Minority, Race and Ethnicity

Ch. 9, Sec. 1

pp. 274-279

What is a Minority?

Physical or cultural differences separate them from the majority

Physical-skin color, facial features

Cultural-accent, religion, language

Minority is dominated by the majority

Majority holds unfair proportion of the goods and services

Minority traits are often believed to be inferior by the majority

Ex. Justify job discrimination based on a belief of laziness

What is a Minority?

Members of minorities have strong sense of common identity, with strong group loyalty

Exclusion creates unity amongst the group, a “consciousness of kind”

Majority ascribes status to those who are in the minority

Race

Members share biologically inherited traits

Ex. Skin color, hair, facial features, height

No such thing as a pure race

Physical attributions are arbitrary

Social attitudes towards race are more important

Advantages of Race

No evidence of innate differences in athleticism or intelligence

Some characteristics are adaptations for native environments

Ex. White and dark skin

Ethnicity

Ethnic Minority is a group identified with cultural, religious, or national characteristics

Feelings of superiority toward these groups come from an ethnocentric belief that there is something wrong with them because their culture is different

EXAMINE-Immigrant graph on p. 278

Racial and Ethnic

Relations

Ch. 9, Sec. 2

pp. 280-283

Patterns of Assimilation

Acceptance of a group leads to assimilation, where minorities blend in

Rejection of a group leads to conflict

DISCUSS-is race changing in the U.S., do you have the same view on race as your parents

Assimilation

Anglo conformity-immigrants must conform to traditional American institutions

Melting pot-all minorities blend together

Melting pot or Tossed salad?

DISCUSS-Melting pot vs. Tossed Salad

Assimilation

Tossed salad analogy fits beliefs of cultural pluralism where a minority can maintain its sense of identity

Ex. Little Italy, China Town,

Accommodation occurs when a minority is able to deal with the majority only when it must but keeps its culture and language

Ex. Amish, Cubans, Hutterites

Patterns of Conflict

Conflict patterns are determined by examining history

Genocide is most extreme pattern

A systematic effort to destroy an entire population

Ex. Nazis, Japanese and Chinese (360,000), Serbians Bosnia and Kosovo (Ethnic cleansing of muslims), Tutsi and Hutus (1 million)

Patterns of Conflict

During population transfer, a minority is forced to leave its territory

Subjugation is most common because it denies minorities access to societal benefits

de jure and de facto

Theories of Prejudice and Discrimination

Ch. 8, Sec. 3

pp. 284-288

Stereotypes

Distorted or oversimplified ideas applied to an entire group

Sometimes they are created to justify discrimination toward a group

DISCUSS-positive stereotypes

Prejudice

Widely held negative attitude directed at a particular group

Overgeneralization

Based on biased or insufficient info or stereotypes

Become very rigid, particularly if shared by family members and friends

Racism

Belief discrimination is justified because one race is superior to another

Not genetic, transmitted by culture

Discrimination

Treating people differently because of a prejudice held against a group

Ranges from avoiding social contact to violence

Hate Crimes

Criminal acts motivated by extreme prejudice or racism

Prejudice

Widely held negative attitude directed at a particular group

Overgeneralization

Based on biased or insufficient info or stereotypes

DISCUSS-prejudices not based on race or ethnicity

DEMONSTRATION-square game to distinguish between prejudice & discrimination

Racism

Belief discrimination is justified because one race is superior to another

Not genetic, transmitted by culture

Discrimination

Treating people differently because of a prejudice held against a group

Ranges from avoiding social contact to violence

Hate Crimes

Criminal acts motivated by extreme prejudice or racism

DISCUSS-Ecouraging Citizenship Activity, p. 285

Theoretical Perspectives

Functionalist- prejudice can create a feeling of superiority for the majority but costs society as a whole

Conflict-prejudice and discrimination are weapons of power to control the minority

-Different minorities tend to view one another as competitors rather than allies, Latinos/Blacks

Symbolic Interactionism

People learn to be prejudice

Language (blacklist, blackball)

Self-fulfilling prophecy-expectation that leads to behavior that makes the expectation reality

EX. Kid succeeding because they are encouraged to

EXAMINE-Focus on Theoretical Perspectives p. 288

Minorities in the U.S.

Ch. 8, Sec. 4

pp. 290-291

Institutionalized Discrimination

Unfair practices that grow out of common behaviors

Seniority systems, school districts

Costs to minorities are very high

African Americans

Largest minority-13%

Barriers include very different physical appearance and a history of being discriminated against

-Earn $62 to $100 (white)

-Less professionals, twice as likely to work in low-level service jobs

-Double the unemployment, but probably more because of hidden unemployment

EXAMINE-Graphs on p. 292

African American

Fewer high school and college graduates compared to whites

Number of professionals has increased 128%

Though underrepresented, African Americans have entered the “power elite”

Latinos

Ethnic minorities from Latin Am.

Fastest growing minority

-25% of population by 2050

Diverse group

-Mexicans 60%, Puerto Ricans 13%, Cubans 30%,

54% HS graduation rate

Latinos

¼ of population is below poverty

Make more than African-Americans but far less than whites

Most work in low, semiskilled jobs

Many migrant workers

-Prevents education because children work in the fields

Gaining political power as population increases

Native Americans

2 million people in 500 tribes

Stereotypes have destroyed ethnic identity

25% below poverty line

Fewer HS graduates than any group

DISCUSS-playing cowboys and Indians and in the impact of native American logos

Native Americans

20% in white collar jobs

Little to no representation in Gov’t

Life on reservations is significantly worse then off

Casinos have been a new source of income

Asian Americans

4% of population

Diverse background

-Chinese, Japanese, Korean, India, Vietnam, Phillipeans

History of discrimination during 1800’s and the 1940’s

-Railroad crews, agriculture workers

-Violence erupted against Chinese when whites needed their jobs

-Japanese internment camp

Cultural emphasis on education has led to 42% college attendance and greater acceptance in society

-25% white and 10% Latino

-Has led to “Smart” stereotype

-earn more on average than any other social class including Whites

-Have not had the centuries of discrimination faced by blacks and Native Americans

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