Sociology- race and ethnicity

1. JOURNAL
 Write down 1 positive and 1 negative
stereotype about each of the following
groups:
– Whites -Native Americans
– African Americans -Irish Americans
– Latinos -Asian Americans
– Arab Americans
– Jewish Americans

2. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER IN
GROUP DISCUSSIONS ON
JOURNAL
 What was easier to do, positive or negative?
 Which groups didn’t you have a stereotype
for? Why?
 Where do the stereotypes we have for
certain groups come from?
 How do those stereotypes impact the way
those groups are treated?

3. Minority, Race and Ethnicity
Ch. 9, Sec. 1
pp. 274-279

4. What is a Minority?
Physical or cultural differences
separate them from the majority
Minority is dominated by the
majority
Minority traits are often believed
to be inferior by the majority

5. What is a Minority?
Members of minorities have
strong sense of common identity,
with strong group loyalty
– Discuss in your small group why would minorities
have strong bonds to each other?
Majority ascribes status to those
who are in the minority

6. Race
Members share biologically
inherited traits
– Skin color, hair, facial features, height
No such thing as a pure race
Physical attributions are arbitrary
– What does it mean that characteristics are arbitrary?
Social attitudes towards race are
more important

7. Advantages of Race
No evidence of innate differences
in athleticism or intelligence
– Do you agree with this statement? Give evidence for or against in
your small group
Some characteristics are
adaptations for native environments
– Discuss in your small group, are there any racial
features you can think of as being adaptations for one’s
environment?

8. Ethnicity
Ethnic Minority is a group identified
with cultural, religious, or national
characteristics
Majority feels superior because their
cultural practices are viewed as
“weird”
– Discuss in your small group what an example of ethnic
minorities would be and why do we focus less on ethnicity
and more on race in the United States?

9. Racial and Ethnic
Relations
Ch. 9, Sec. 2
pp. 280-283

10. Patterns of Assimilation
Acceptance of a group leads to
assimilation, where minorities
blend in
Rejection of a group leads to
conflict

11. Assimilation
Anglo conformity-immigrants must
conform to traditional American
institutions
Melting pot-all minorities blend
together
– Is the United States a Melting pot or Tossed salad?
– Discuss what the difference between the two is.

12. Assimilation
Tossed salad analogy fits beliefs of
cultural pluralism where a minority
can maintain its sense of identity
Accommodation occurs when a
minority is able to deal with the
majority only when it must but
keeps its culture and language

13. Patterns of Conflict
Conflict patterns are determined by
examining history

14. Patterns of Conflict
Genocide is most extreme pattern
– A systematic effort to destroy an entire
population (aka ethnic cleansing)
Population Transfer
– Native Americans to Oklahoma
Subjugation
– De Jure Segregation-law based
(apartheid)
– De Facto Segregation-practice based

15. Theories of Prejudice
and Discrimination
Ch. 9, Sec. 3
pp. 284-288
Write down one
prejudice that you have.
Where did it come from?

16. Stereotypes
Distorted or oversimplified
ideas applied to an entire group
Sometimes they are created to
justify discrimination toward a
group
Stereotype Video

17. Prejudice
Widely held negative attitude
directed at a particular group
–Overgeneralization
–Based on biased or insufficient
info or stereotypes

18. Racism
Belief discrimination is justified
because one race is superior to
another
Not genetic, transmitted by culture

19. Discrimination
Treating people differently because
of a prejudice held against a group
–Ranges from avoiding social
contact to violence

20. Hate Crimes
Criminal acts motivated by
extreme prejudice or racism

21. Institutionalized
Discrimination
Unfair practices that grow out of
common behaviors
–Seniority systems, school
districts
Costs to minorities are very high

22. 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

23. Symbolic Interactionism
People learn to be prejudice
Language (blacklist, blackball)
Self-fulfilling prophecy-expectation
that leads to behavior that makes
the expectation reality

24. Minorities in the U.S.
Ch. 8, Sec. 4
pp. 290-301

25. African Americans
Large minority-13%
Barriers include very different
physical appearance and a history
of being discriminated against
When hidden unemployment is
considered-25% unemployment

26. 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”

27. Latinos
Ethnic minorities from Latin Am.
Largest Minority 13%
– Immigration
Diverse group
57% HS graduation rate

28. 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
Gaining political power as
population increases

29. Native Americans
2 million people in 500 tribes
Stereotypes have destroyed ethnic
identity
25% below poverty line

30. 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

31. Asian Americans
4% of population
Diverse background
History of discrimination during
1800’s and the 1940’s
Cultural emphasis on education
has led to 49% college attendance
and greater acceptance in society