Transcript chapter 9 notes

Chapter 9
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Objectives
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Describe what sociologists mean by the terms:
minority, race, and ethnicity
Discuss patterns of racial and ethnic relations
Discuss the difference between prejudice and
discrimination
Explain 3 different views of racial inequalities
(theories)
Compare the condition of American minorities
with that of the white majority
Minority
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Minority- group of people with physical or cultural
traits different from the dominant group in society
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African Americans
Native Americans
Hispanics
Other ethnic groups
Race
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People sharing certain inherited characteristics that
are considered important within a society
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African American
White/Caucasian
Native American
Ethnicity
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Ethnic group- having a characteristic of a certain
group sharing a culture, religion, language, etc.
Difference between Ethnicity and Race
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2 black men- one from Georgia and one from
Ethiopia
Both men have the same RACE (black) and share
the same physical characteristics
Georgia is a Christian, speaks English, and
celebrates the 4th of July
Ethiopia is a Muslim, speaks 1 of the 84 languages,
and celebrates the Birth of Mohammed
They have different ETHNICITY
How Minorities Blend into Society
(Patterns of Assimilation)
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1- Minority group must be accepted
2- Group must be allowed to fully participate in
society
Melting Pot of America
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3 Forms of Assimilation
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1- Anglo-conformity: minority accepts American
standards of conduct
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2- Tossed salad (also known as cultural pluralism): more
than one culture is being acted out
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Mexican immigrant learns English and only speaks English
Mexican immigrant speaks English at school, but Spanish at
home and attends Spanish church services
3- Accommodation: perform minority culture, yet deal
with dominant society
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Hutterites
Patterns of Conflict
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Minority is rejected
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Genocide: systematic effort to destroy entire population
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Population Transfer: group is forced to move to another
location
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Hitler and Jews
Cherokee and Trail of Tears
Subjugation: group is denied equal access to culture and
lifestyle of dominant society
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Laws- Jim Crow
Practice- Jobs to one race
Discrimination
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ACTION of treating people differently based upon
race, ethnicity, religion or culture
Prejudice
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Negative ATTITUDES toward a group (race,
ethnicity, religion, culture)
Theories on Race Inequality
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Functionalist- See Racial Inequality as Positive
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Dysfunctions can be caused by prejudice/discrimination
Safety and stability of society is at risk (protects the
majority group)
Majority feels superior and strengthens their self concept
Theories Cont.
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Conflict- majority uses prejudice and discrimination
for power
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Control of property, goods, resources
Minorities conflict with one another for what little power
remains
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Shiite and Sunni Muslims
Theories Cont.
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Symbolic Interactionist: people learn prejudice from
our family
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Language
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Blackmail, blackballed, etc
Self-fulfilling prophecy: minorities are expected to act a
certain way and will do so
Institutionalized Discrimination
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Unfair practices that grow out of common
behaviors and attitudes
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Inner city schools and deterioration
Blue Collar Workers
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Wage earning workers that wear specialized clothing
on the job
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Mechanics
Miners
Have their name on their shirt “Bob”
White Collar Workers
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Office workers
Wear dress shirts to work (usually white)
No manual labor
Minority Groups in the US
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African Americans
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Largest and oldest minority group
Lack of acceptance because of physical features and place in
history (slaves)
Gaining in education and politics
Latinos (people from Mexico, Central and South America)
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Fastest growing group- will be majority
Migrant workers
Half finish high school
Joining politics
Minorities Cont.
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Native Americans
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Fight stereotypes
Poverty
Casinos and Opportunity
Asian Americans
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Gold Rush of 1850s
Internment during WWII
Minorities Cont.
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White Ethnics (European immigrants)
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Blue collar workers
Assignments
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Pg. 304 #2
Answer the 5 objectives at the beginning of
presentation