VCE Sociology



Key KnowledgeImportant informationKey Knowledge 1: The nature and meaning of the sociological concepts of race and ethnicity Race: Race is a socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important, such as skin colour and facial features.Three types of race:Caucasoid: Relatively light skin and fine hairNegroid: Darker skin and course hairMongoloid: Yellow or brown skin and distinctive folds on eyelidsTwo key points (negativity of race):Racial distinctions, rather than specific biological differences, were used to maintain patterns of power and inequality within societySociologists consider the use of socially-constructed racial categories to be both misleading and harmful.Three observations by sociologists:the meaning and importance of race varies from place to place and over timesocieties use racial categories to rank people in a hierarchy, giving some people more money, power and prestige than others.Despite the creation of broad racial categories, scientific method has established that there are no biological ‘pure’ races.Ethnicity: Ethnicity refers to a social group, categorised by a distinctive way of life with set customary values.Features of ethnic groupsMembers of a group can claim an ethnic identity Sometimes an ethnic category may be assigned by others. An ascribed status…Ethnic characteristics are learnt and passed across generations through the process of socialisation.Ethnic groups share common cultural heritage that they believe identifies them as mon characteristics familiar to ethnic groups include: national origin, language, religion, food, styles of dress or adornments and a sense of common historical heritage.Issues related to the study of ethnicityThe way ethnic groups see themselves might not correspond to the way that those outside the group view them.Ethnic communities are often misrepresented as a homogenous group.Ethnic roles are flexible and may change according to the setting.The culture that ethnic groups are considered to share is often viewed as being traditional and fixed, rather than as adapting and changing over time.Research and media reporting of ethnicity tends to focus on migrant or minority groups that have highly visible customs.Key Knowledge 2: The concepts of ethnocentrism, cultural relativism and the ‘other’ Ethnocentrism: Refers to the tendency to measure all other cultures in relation to one’s own culture.Cultural relativism: Involves attempt to understand a culture’s behaviour, customs, religion and language in terms of that culture’s set of norms. A common technique to try and achieve this aim is thorough analysis from the point of view of members of the culture.Unfortunately, causal and institutionalised racism occurs in many sectors of our daily lives. He made particular reference to structural racism in the Australian media. The Australian media does not reflect the breadth of our multicultural society. This can be seen through the lack of senior journalists of non-Anglo-Celtic backgrounds within the media, or the actors chosen for tv dramas. Ethnic groups = criminals, drug dealers and shady characters.SBS does reflect diverse nature of Australian society.Other1. Otherness refers to the labelling of a group of people who are seen as ‘outsiders’ by the dominant culture. 2. It refers to the experience of exclusion felt by those considered to be outside of the centre of societal values and beliefs. 3. It is an outcome of the various processes through which boundaries are constructed between us and them.From an Australian perspective the self is viewed as white Anglo-Celtic culture. The beliefs and cultural practices of the dominant culture are reflected in a range of social systems such as political institutions, the media and the workplace.Otherness examplesAsians (1990s)People who practice the Islamic faith (current)Common example of otherness‘Mate speak English, you’re in Australia now’ I’m Australian – we grew here, you flew here’. SPEAK ENGLISH OR PISS OFF…Key Knowledge 3: The nature of the theory of ethnic hybridity, as informed by Stuart Hall, and its connection to experiences of ethnicity Stuart Hall: Is a cultural theorist and sociologist who refer to the theory of cultural hybridity. Describes the experience of people who have multiple ethnic identities.Hybridity involves a process where individuals develop connections across cultural groups.People identify with, and choose elements of, more than one culture that then form a blended ethnic identity.Example of ethnic hybridityVietnamese-Australian children who have one set of cultural experiences within their homes and local communities and an entirely different identity within their schools.Important: These multiple identities reflect the idea that the concept of ethnicity is both temporary and evolving.Four common challenges that young people face when balancing parents cultural expectations with their peers and wider societies.Assimilation: They adopt the new culture and reject old culture.Withdrawal: They reject the new culture and preserve or exaggerate old culture.Marginalisation: Reject both old and new cultures.Integration or biculturalism: Maintain important aspects of their old culture while also adopting parts of their new culture.Key Knowledge 4: Australia’s ethnic diversity compared with other developed countries Australia is exceptionally diverse nation.We got to this position through a history of immigration.Timeline for immigration to Australia:Colonisation: “First Fleet” (1788)Free Immigrants (1793-1850)Labourers (1850-1900)Gold Rush (1851 onwards)White Australia Policy: “assimilation” (1901-1958)10 Pound Poms: “Populate or perish” (1950s)Boat people (1970's)Federal Multiculturalism program (1978)Operation Sovereign borders (2013)The Cambodia solution? (2014)Migration programme (2015)Humanitarian program (2014-2015)Key terms:MigrationImmigrationEmigrationKey Knowledge 5: The social, political and economic impact of immigration, assimilation and multiculturalism as opposing policy positions Key Knowledge 6: How social institutions at the local, state and national level engage with and respond to the needs of ethnic groups Key Knowledge 7: The experience of a specific ethnic group with reference to relevant sociological concepts and theory: how the ethnic group identifies itself an overview of the non-material and material culture unique to the group cultural activities unique to the group challenges experienced by the group, methods used to address them and the outcome of this intervention Key Knowledge 8: The nature of ethical methodology with reference to voluntary participation, informed consent, privacy and the confidentiality of data. ................
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