Sociology Chapter 8

socially defined category based on real or perceived biological differences between groups of people more meaningful on social level than biological level

socially define category based on common language, religion, nationality, history, or another cultural factor applied to groups with shared history or social heritage example: Amish or Jewish people, NOT a race

symbolic ethnicity and situational ethnicity

an ethnic identity that is only relevant on specific occasions and does not significantly impact everyday life ex. Irish Americans & St. Patrick's Day - their ancestry may not matter on a daily basis not available to those who are visibly nonmainstream

ethnic identity that can either be displayed or concealed depending on its usefulness in a given situation when we deliberately assert our ethnicity in some situations while downplaying it in others involves cost-benefit analysis

social group that is systematically denied the same access to power and resources available to society's dominant groups are not necessarily fewer in number than the dominant group

set of beliefs about the superiority of one's racial/ethnic group; presumes one group is better than another used to justify inequality and often rooted in the assumption that differences between groups are genetic

"prejudgement," inflexible attitude about a group rooted in generalizations/stereotypes idea about characteristics of a group that is applied to all members of that group and is unlikely to change regardless of the evidence against it ex. "All Irish are drunks"

discrimination

unequal treatment of individuals based on their membership in a social group; motivated by prejudice ex. turning someone down for a job because that person is Hispanic

discrimination carried out by one person against another ex. a teacher giving a lower grade to a Hispanic student

carried out systematically by institutions that affect all members of a group who come into contact with it systematic and widespread ex. GI Bill of Rights - in practice, blacks were impeded from taking advantage of the new benefits (loans)

groups have a tendency toward ethnocentrism which binds people together but also makes them act unfavorable toward those outside the group

majority of groups use racism and ethnocentrism to protect their interests

race and ethnicity are created symbolically in every day interactions

presenting yourself as a member of a different racial/ethnic group than the one you were born into ex. light skinned African Americans manufacturing a new identity that is more beneficial than one's real identity

W.E.B. Dubois; divided identity experienced by blacks in America Can one be black and claim one's rights as an American?

those elements of identity that are generated through others' perceptions of our physical traits not available to those interacting online

African Americans are more likely than whites and Hispanics to never marry or to be divorced low income women of all ethnicities see marriage as having few benefits

disparities in access to health care can help explain life expectancy rates of different races minorities disproportionately exposed to dangers in the workplace, toxins in the environment, and poor diet

highest rates with dropping out associated with those from economically disadvantaged and non-English speaking backgrounds Asian Americans and whites have more success than African Americans and Hispanics

executive and managerial professions primarily held by whites African Americans are less likely to achieve high levels of education so they "swell bottom rungs" of the job market

larger proportions of African American men and Hispanic men are in prisons some laws create racially differentiated outcomes ex. crack (small amount & black) vs cocaine (large amount and white) higher unemployment and dropout rates and therefore higher incarceration rates declining marriage rates therefore more incarceration more African Americans likely to be murdered (hate crimes)

"interracial intimacy and racism that accompany it is a gendered experience" white mothers of interracial children must calibrate parenting to address race and racism in a way that their own mothers did not

1) genocide 2) population transfer 3) internal colonialism and segregation 4) assimilation 5) pluralism

the deliberate and systematic extermination of a racial, ethnic, national, or cultural group ex. Holocaust, Tutsis in Rwanda, Native Americans

the forcible removal of a group of people from the territory they have occupied ex. Native Americans & reservations, Trail of Tears possible to make life so miserable in a region that a group of people will choose to leave "voluntarily"

economic and political subjugation of the minority group by the dominant group in a nation includes some sort of physical segregation

physical and legal separation of groups by race/ethnicity ex. 1960s American society

pattern of relations between ethnic/racial groups in which the minority group is absorbed into the mainstream/dominant group; not always voluntary makes society homogenous, "melting pot" minority group members may lose their previous ethnic/racial identity

1) racial assimilation 2) cultural assimilation

process by which racial minority groups are absorbed into the dominant group through intermarriage

process by which racial/ethnic groups are absorbed into the dominant group by adopting the dominant group's culture

cultural pattern of intergroup relations that encourages racial and ethnic variation and acceptance within a society ex. Canada "salad bowl" rather than "melting pot"