Transcript Race and Ethnicity

Bell Ringer
• Are people of different races actually
different biologically? Explain your
answer.
• As you watch the video clip, write
down 3 interesting/surprising things
you notice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnfKgffCZ7U
Race and Ethnicity
The Architecture of Inequality: Race
and Ethnicity
Race Is a Social Construct
• Idea of race was created by people
• Race is not distinguishable biologically from a
single “race” gene
• There are no universal racial categories
Minority, Race, and Ethnicity
• Race: Classification based on
inherited physical or biological
characteristics—such as facial
structure or skin color—deemed
by society to be socially
significant
• Ethnicity: Classification based
on cultural associations and by
non-biological traits—language,
religion, traditions, food, etc.
• Minority: Group of people with
physical or cultural traits
different from the dominant
group
Racism patterns of conflict
• Subjugation: When a
minority group is denied
equal access to things in
society
• Genocide: Systematic effort
to destroy or exterminate a
race of people. Holocaust,
Rwanda, Darfur
Racism: patterns of
conflict
• De Jure Segregation:
Denial of equal access based on
the law. Brown vs. Board of
Education (1954)
• De Facto Segregation:
Denial of equal access based on
everyday practice. Not selling
houses to minorities
Redlining
Myth of Innate Racial
Inferiority
• The Bell Curve
– Argued that IQ is related to race
and heredity
– More due to levels of education
than innate intelligence
• Myth of Superior Black
Athlete
– Idea that blacks are successful
from natural ability whereas
whites are successful from
intelligence and hard work
– But what about opportunities and
social arrangements for black vs.
white athletes?
Racial Inequalities in
Education
• Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
• Schools are still segregated (de facto segregation):
African American and Latino students are
actually more isolated from white students
today than they were 30 years ago
• Teachers are mostly white (83% of public school
teachers; 88% of private school teachers)
• Schools in poor districts have fewer resources
• Majority white schools are rarely in poor districts
Perceptions of Racism
 Twice as many blacks as whites think racism is a
big problem
 Twice as many whites as blacks think blacks have
achieved racial equality
 72% of whites believe that blacks overestimate
the amount of discrimination against them
 82% of blacks believe whites underestimate the
amount of discrimination blacks suffer
 Almost half of whites oppose programs that make
special efforts to help minorities get ahead
Perceptions of Racism
Survey question: How serious of a problem do you think racism is nationally?
68%
43%
31%
16%
20%
6%
5%
6%
Bell Ringer
• What is the difference between sex and gender?
• What type of occupation do you want after you
graduate?
• Why do you think most people enter occupations
that are typical for their gender?
The Architecture of Inequality Sex
and Gender
Biology, Culture, and
Behavior
• Biological Determinism –
Theory that behavior is the
result of inherited physical
characteristics
• Sex: Male and Female
• Gender: Attributes and
dispositions that cultures
attribute to each sex
– Awareness of being masculine
(male) or feminine (female) based
on learned cultural values and
social expectations
Biology, Culture, and
Behavior
How do sociologists view behavior?
The majority of sociologists argue that
gender-related behavior is not primarily the
result of biology. They believe it has both
biological and cultural causes.
Perspectives on Gender
Functionalist, Interactionism, and Conflict Theory
• Functionalists focus on the origins of gender differences
• Conflict theorists look at the reasons gender differences exist
• Interactionism focuses on how boys and girls are supposed to act,
referred to as Gender Socialization
Discussion Questions
– How do parents contribute to gender socialization?
– Do schools reinforce gender socialization? If so, how?
– How do peers contribute to gender socialization?
Gender Inequality
Occupational Gender/Sex Segregation
There are more women in lower status positions
across the globe. Varies from culture to culture.
Sexism
• Sexism – A system of beliefs that asserts the
inferiority of one sex and justifies
discrimination based on gender
• Patriarchy – Society in which males have
higher prestige
• Matriarchy – Society in which females have
higher prestige (Rarer around the world)
Gender Inequality and the
Economy
• Women have less earning power than men, even
though almost half of all United States workers are
women
• Work segregation and wage gaps are still common
– 92% of nurses are women, but 32.2% of doctors
– 96.6% of dental hygienists, but 30% of dentists
– Every $1 a man earns, a woman earns 77 cents
– Women ages 45-64 earn only 73% of men’s wages
– Global Phenomenon
Femininity and Masculinity
• What does it mean to behave in a feminine or
masculine way?
– Body Movements
– Communication Patterns
– Patterns of dress, hair, and physical presentation
– Media Stereotypes
Gender Inequality in the
Double-edged Media
sword for gender ads
– Perfect wife/mother/career woman
– Reduces Customer Base?
– Seductive Sex Object
Deodorant
Razors
Ear Plugs
Easy Bake Oven
Legos
Magazine Covers