Transcript Chapter 8

Chapter 8
 Majority is often referred to as the dominate
group…the ones that are advantaged and have superior
rights in society.
 Minority is often referred to as the subordinate
group…the ones that are disadvantaged and are
subjected to unequal treatment
 Key features of minorities:
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Distinctive physical or culture features that separate it
from the majority
Minority is dominated by the majority
Minority traits are often believed by the majority to be
inferior
Members of the minority share common group
identity
Majority determines who is in the minority
 People sharing certain inherited (biological) physical
characteristics that are considered important in a
society
 Skin color, hair color, facial features, head form, eye
color, height etc…
 Three major divisions
 Negroid
 Mongoloid
 Caucasian
 There is no “pure” race
 Differences in race are closer than many think
 Negative attitudes based on faulty generalizations
about members of racial or ethnic groups
 People are “pre judged”
 Can be both positive and negative
 Prejudice is often rooted in stereotypes
 An overgeneralization about a group
 Racism is a set of negative attitudes towards a race that
are used to justify the inferior treatment of a race
 Discrimination involves the actions or practices taken
by the dominate group that have a harmful impact on
the subordinate group
 One may be prejudice but not discriminatory.
 Discrimination involves action
 Group identified by cultural, religious, or national
characteristics
 Race is biological whereas ethnicity is cultural
 Ethnic minority is a subculture of the majority
 Negative feelings towards ethnic minorities is a result of
ethnocentrism
 In the U.S., non-European immigrants tend to be viewed
less favorably than European immigrants
 Pg. 278
 Hate Crimes…hate crimes are criminal acts motivated
by prejudice.
 They may be because one simply dislikes a group…or one
may be threatened by a group.
 Genocide…the systematic effort to destroy an entire
population.
 Holocaust
 Serbian campaign against the Muslims
 Darfur
 Assimilation is the blending or fusing of minority
groups into the dominant society.
 Sometimes, assimilation is forced (Native Americans)
 Other times…it is voluntary (Melting Pot)
 Cultural pluralism…a pattern of assimilation where
groups maintain some of their cultural identity but
conform to most aspects of the dominant culture
 Subjugation is the most popular form of mass racial
conflict.
 In subjugation, the minority is denied equal access to
the culture and lifestyle of the majority.
 African Americans in the U.S. through the segregation
policies.
 Functionalist…the dysfunction of racism can help to
serve society. However, it also is positive for the
majority as it strengthens their group ties.
 Conflict…majority uses prejudice and discrimination
to maintain power over the majority.
 Symbolic Interactionism…members of majority learn
prejudice and discrimination through socialization.
 Minority may also learn defeat and inability through the
process.
 Although many believe that discrimination stopped
with the civil rights movement, it still continues.
 Institutionalized Discrimination is discrimination that
results from common behaviors and attitudes that are
part of society.
 At 34 million, African Americans make up 12 % of total
population.
 Why are they widely discriminated?
 Skin color makes them easy to identify
 As a result of slavery, they have historically been
assigned to the lower class
 Make about 64% of what whites make (income)
 Do not have as many life or job opportunities.
 Face lack of education.
 Latinos are ethnic minorities from Latin America.
 They are the fastest growing group and the largest in
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the U.S. (12.5% of population).
Predicted that by 2050 Latinos will make up 25% of the
population.
60% of Latinos are of Mexican descent.
Like African Americans, they attain lower education
than whites.
Income is higher than African Americans but lower
than whites.
Gaining political power in Congress.
 Original settlers in U.S.
 Number unknown but perhaps 40 million
 Tribes
 Originally some 500; now about 170
 Government policies
 Separation: territories were treated as nations
 Expulsion: Indian removal, including extermination, to
western regions
 Forced assimilation: after 1880
 Americanizing and dissolution of Indian culture
 After 1930, tribal restoration
 Just over 2 million in the U.S.
 There were about five hundred tribes but often
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stereotyped as one.
Possibly the most discriminated against today.
25% of Native Americans live below poverty line.
Lowest high school graduation rate of any minority.
Lowest average income of any minority.
Only 2 Native American members of Congress.
Life on reservations is the worst (50% below poverty
threshold).
 10 million in the U.S. making up 4% of the population.
 Largest groups are from China, Japan, India, Korea,
and Vietnam.
 Chinese were treated poorly and moved into ghettos
(Chinatown) during early days of migration.
 They have achieved great success today…
 Higher income and higher education rates than whites.
 White ethnics are groups of descent from Eastern and
Southern Europe.
 Italy, Poland, Greek, Slavic
 Although from Northern Europe, Irish are also in this
category.
 These groups were often discriminated against during
early migration or still are today.
 Not of the Anglo Saxon descent
 These groups do not face the continual discrimination
like the others and celebrate their ethnic heritage.
 America is becoming more diverse and the future of
discrimination is unknown. Will it increase or
decrease with additional groups?
 Increased Middle Eastern, Latino, and African
immigration.