Sociological Perspectives on Race and

Ethnicity

Race and Ethnicity

Prejudice and Discrimination
Racial and Ethnic Interactions
Sociological Analysis of Ethnic and Racial Inequality
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity

Race A group of people who have been identified

as having real or alleged physical characteristics. It
is the fact that these biological traits are endowed
with social meaning that brings them into the realm
of the social sciences.
Ethnicity refers to people who share common
cultural characteristics and ethnic identity; they
share a sense of oneness, and a shared fate.
Marriage across racial and ethnic lines, while not
uncommon, is not typical for sociological and
demographic reasons; attitudes, beliefs, access.
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity

Minority a group that has less power than the dominant

group, has less esteem and prestige, and is often the target
of discrimination. The two major characteristics are
distinctive identity and subordination. The sociological
meaning of minority does not refer to the numerical size of a
group, nor to any specific ethnicity, race, or other real or
imaged factors as these factors are relative to a specific
society.
esteem the honor that accrues to an individual
filling a position
prestige the honor associated with an occupation
or other position in a social system
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity

Prejudice an attitude which predisposes an individual to

prejudge entire categories of people unfairly. This attitude is
rigid, often emotionally loaded, and resistant to change; re-
fencing and closed mindedness.
Discrimination is a behavior resulting in unfair, unequal, or
harmful treatment based upon a prejudice.
One may confront discrimination by focusing on attitudes,
behaviors, or both. It is usually most effective to begin with the
discriminatory behaviors in order to provide some relief for
those discriminated against. The official organs of the state
must support these efforts to eliminate discriminatory behaviors
or they will most likely continue; institutional discrimination.
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity
Stereotype a rigid and often inaccurate image that
summarizes a belief. Because stereotypes reflect beliefs
rather than facts, they are often illogical and self-serving.
(Discussion)
Stereotypes persist in culture because: (functions for those
using them)
a) stereotypes can work to elevate the status of the group which
engages in it;
b) stereotyping reduces the need to think by creating
universals, and not having to acknowledge individualistic
characteristics; and,
c) Stereotyping can work as a social-psychological mechanism
for reducing guilt in the minds of those who practice prejudice
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity
Stereotype particular stereotypes are often
used for different groups, such as the concept
of laziness. Laziness has been applied to
Blacks, Hispanics, Polish, Irish, and Native-
Americans. It has also been used to explain why
someone is the member of a lower class or poor.
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity
Salience Principle we categorize people on
the basis of what appears initially prominent and
obvious- that is, what is salient- about them. The
choice of salient characteristics is culturally
determined. Thus, race, ethnicity, gender, social
class, and religion are among the most
prominent features by which people are
categorized.
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity
Institutional Discrimination discriminatory
practices often become an integral part of the
social practices and institutions of a society.
The more complex and bureaucratic the
organization, the less people pay attention to
the discriminatory practices embedded in the
rules and procedures, largely because it is not
an individuals responsibility, but a corporate or
organizational responsibility; I am just doing
my job, I am just following orders ; or, I just
enforce the laws, I do not create them.
Not economically viable
 In the Year 2050

DEMOGRAPHICS of the United States

2000 *
WHITE 80% OF POPULATION
HISPANIC 12.5%
BLACK 12.3%
ASIAN 3.9%
2050
WHITE 53% OF POPULATION
HISPANIC 21%
BLACK 16%
ASIAN 10%

* Percentages taken from previous slide

 Social Standings
Based on Median Income

Native Americans
(27.1% live in poverty)

African Americans
(22.1% live in poverty)

Asian Americans
(10.8% live in poverty)

Hispanic Americans
(21.2% live in poverty)
Entire U.S
(11.3% live in poverty)
30000 38000 42000 46000 50000 54000 58000

Median Family Income

U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2001
 COGNITIVE LEVEL
THE IDEA OR THOUGHT
JEWISH PEOPLE ARE GREEDY
EMOTIONAL LEVEL
ATTACHING FEELINGS TO IDEA
LEARNING TO FEEL ANGER TOWARDS WHITES
ACTION-ORIENTATION LEVEL
PREDISPOSITION TO ACT (discrimination)
MORE LIKELY TO VERBALLY OR PHYSICALLY ATTACK A TARGETTED
GROUP
 A VERY POWERFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE FORM OF
PREJUDICE THAT REMAINS VERY MUCH ALIVE TODAY

THE BELIEF THAT ONE RACIAL CATEGORY IS INNATELY SUPERIOR OR

INFERIOR TO ANOTHER
INDIVIDUAL RACISM
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM
RECALL WHAT RACE IS AND SEE THE IRRATIONAL THOUGHT
PROCESS
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PURE RACE THESE DAYS; A CONTINUUM
RACE IS BIOLOGICAL, BUT WHAT PEOPLE MAKE OF IT IS SOCIAL
 SCAPEGOAT THEORY
BLAMING OTHERS FOR PERSONAL TROUBLES
TARGET SELECTION AND THEN AGGRESSION
AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
THE ARCHIE BUNKER THEORY
CULTURE OF PREJUDICE
THE SOCIALIZATION EXPERIENCE
ITS NORMAL FOR PEOPLE TO PREJUDGE OTHERS
CONFLICT THEORY
SELF-JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RICH AND POWERFUL IN AMERICA
USE OF RACE CARD BY MINORITY GROUPS CAN LEAD TO WHITE
BACKLASH MOVEMENTS
 VERBALIZATION
JOKES, COMMENTS, RACIAL SLURS
EXCLUSION
KEEPING PEOPLE MARGINAL
AVOIDANCE
NOT TRAVELING IN CERTAIN AREAS
PHYSICAL ABUSE
PHYSICAL ATTACKS
GENOCIDE
SYSTEMATIC KILLING OFF OF A GROUP
 VERBALIZATION
JOKES, COMMENTS, RACIAL SLURS
Marginalizing others by the use of language and
symbols.
De-humanizing others by identifying them as things
Do the Right Thing film excerpt
 EXCLUSION and AVOIDANCE
Marginalizing persons and separating them
Avoiding them in social situations
 PHYSICAL ABUSE
PHYSICAL ATTACKS
 GENOCIDE
SYSTEMATIC KILLING OFF OF A GROUP FOR RACIAL,
ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC
OBJECTIVES
Europe, World War II 1943
Wounded Knee South Dakota, United States 1890
Rwanda, Africa 1994
Darfur, the Sudan, North Africa 2006
Cambodia, 1977
Bosnia, 1996
Genocide
There are 8 stages of genocide, as
identified by Genocide Watch. They are:
Classification, Symbolization,
Dehumanization, Organization, Polarization,
Identification, Extermination, and Denial.
(Armenia)
 PREJUDICE AND
DISCRIMINATION BEGIN AS
ETHNOCENTRIC ATTITUDES
AS A RESULT, GROUPS CAN BE
PLACED IN A SITUATION
WHERE THEY ARE SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED AND
LABELED
A GROUPS SITUATION, OVER
TIME, IS THUS EXPLAINED AS A
RESULT OF INNATE
INFERIORITY RATHER THAN
LOOKING AT THE SOCIAL
STRUCTURE FOR REASONS;
THE CYCLE THEN REPEATS
ITSELF
RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS
NATIVE AMERICANS
AN AMERICAN STORY OF GROUP GENOCIDE
EURO AMERICANS
QUICKLY FORGOT WHY THEY HAD LEFT THEIR OWN
COUNTRIES AND DENIED FREEDOM TO MANY GROUPS
AFRICAN AMERICANS
FORCED IMMIGRATION FOR LABOR
ASIAN AMERICANS
AMERICAS MODEL MINORITY GROUP
HISPANIC AMERICANS
FACING MANY SOCIAL ILLS IN AMERICA
 TWO KEY AREAS:
1) ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
2) INCREASE MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONTACT

EDUCATION
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
LEARN TO APPRECIATE DIVERSITY
MEANINGFUL CONTACT
DESIRE TO CHANGE
HONEST, SELF-CRITIQUE OF LIFESTYLE
PLAN FOR INCREASING SOCIAL CONTACT
Contact Theory
Argues that interaction between dominant and minority
groups will reduce prejudice on the part of both groups if
three conditions are met.

Contact is of equal status

Contact between equals must be sustained
Norms favoring equality must be agreed
upon by the participants
 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
SHARE A DISTINCT IDENTITY
RACE, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, THE POOR
SUBORDINATION
OFTEN SADDLED WITH LOWER STATUS
STEREOTYPES, STIGMA, AND LABELING
GROUP SIZE (NUMBERS)
WOMEN IN AMERICA OUTNUMBER MEN
BLACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA OUTNUMBER WHITES
 PLURALSIM
DISTINCT GROUPS WITH PARITY
ASSIMILATION
ADOPTION OF MAJORITY GROUP CULTURE
INTERBREEDING
SEGREGATION
PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DISTANCE
DE JURE AND DE FACTO SEGREGATION
GENOCIDE
ONE GROUP KILLS OFF ANOTHER GROUP
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity: Patterns of Interaction
Assimilation refers to the blending of the culture and
structure of one racial or ethnic group with the culture and
structure of another. There are at least two major possible
outcomes related to assimilation;
1. The majority remains very much intact while the
minority conforms
2. Both the majority and minority change in a
blending; melting pot.
Both cultures must then give up at least some of
the traditional aspects of their native cultures, which
many are reluctant to do.
Pluralism, or multiculturalism occurs when separate
cultures maintain their distinctiveness even though they
maintain approximately equal status; separate but equal.
Expulsion and/or Annihilation the members of one racial,
ethnic, or social group can be forced to migrate, or they
can be exterminated.
Social Analysis of Racial and Ethnic
Inequality
The Functionalist Perspective
A functional argument may be that until racial and ethnic
minorities improve their skills and social positions they will be
unable to compete successfully with other groups, however, it is
part of climbing the social ladder.
The Conflict Perspective
As the different minority groups struggle for resources and status,
the competition between them serves the interests of those in
power; divide and conquer.
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
A member of the minority culture can never feel oneness with a
different culture if they are made to be seen as, and see themselves
as, different.