EthnicityEthnicity

One DefinitionOne Definition The concept of ethnicity is somewhat The concept of ethnicity is somewhat

multidimensional as it includes aspects multidimensional as it includes aspects such as race, origin or ancestry, identity, such as race, origin or ancestry, identity, language and religion. It may also include language and religion. It may also include more subtle dimensions such as culture, more subtle dimensions such as culture, the arts, customs and beliefs and even the arts, customs and beliefs and even practices such as dress and food practices such as dress and food preparation. It is also dynamic and in a preparation. It is also dynamic and in a constant state of flux. It will change as a constant state of flux. It will change as a result of new immigration flows, blending result of new immigration flows, blending and intermarriage, and new identities may and intermarriage, and new identities may be formed. (Statistics Canada)be formed. (Statistics Canada)

WordNet DictionaryWordNet Dictionary Ethnicity is the cultural characteristics that connect a particular Ethnicity is the cultural characteristics that connect a particular

group or groups of people to each other. "Ethnicity" is sometimes group or groups of people to each other. "Ethnicity" is sometimes used as a euphemism for “race", or as a synonym for minority group. used as a euphemism for “race", or as a synonym for minority group. While ethnicity and race are related concepts, the concept of While ethnicity and race are related concepts, the concept of ethnicity is rooted in the idea of societal groups, marked especially ethnicity is rooted in the idea of societal groups, marked especially by shared nationality, tribal affiliation, religious faith, shared by shared nationality, tribal affiliation, religious faith, shared language, or cultural and traditional origins and backgrounds, language, or cultural and traditional origins and backgrounds, whereas race is rooted in the idea of biological classification of homo whereas race is rooted in the idea of biological classification of homo sapiens to subspecies according to morphological features such as sapiens to subspecies according to morphological features such as skin color or facial characteristics. skin color or facial characteristics.

It is a term also used to justify real or imagined historic ties as well. It is a term also used to justify real or imagined historic ties as well. In English, Ethnicity goes far beyond the modern ties of a person to In English, Ethnicity goes far beyond the modern ties of a person to a particular nation (e.g., citizenship), and focuses more upon the a particular nation (e.g., citizenship), and focuses more upon the connection to a perceived shared past and culture. In other connection to a perceived shared past and culture. In other languages, the corresponding terms for ethnicity and nationhood languages, the corresponding terms for ethnicity and nationhood can be closer to each other. The 19th century saw the development can be closer to each other. The 19th century saw the development of the political ideology of ethnic nationalism, when the vague of the political ideology of ethnic nationalism, when the vague concept of race was tied to nationalism, first by German theorists concept of race was tied to nationalism, first by German theorists including Johann Gottfried von Herder. including Johann Gottfried von Herder.

QuestionsQuestions

Do you think of Do you think of yourself as a yourself as a member of an member of an ethnic group?ethnic group?– If so, what is it?If so, what is it?

What defines your What defines your group? group?

– If not, why not?If not, why not?

How does ethnicity How does ethnicity relate to majority relate to majority or minority status?or minority status?

Thomas Hylland EricksenThomas Hylland Ericksen Ethnicity is an aspect of social relationship between agents Ethnicity is an aspect of social relationship between agents

who consider themselves as being culturally distinctive from who consider themselves as being culturally distinctive from members of other groups with whom they have a minimum of members of other groups with whom they have a minimum of regular interaction. It can thus also be defined as a social regular interaction. It can thus also be defined as a social identity (based on a contrast vis-a-vis others) characterised identity (based on a contrast vis-a-vis others) characterised by metaphoric or fictive kinship (Yelvington, 1991: 168). by metaphoric or fictive kinship (Yelvington, 1991: 168). When cultural differences regularly make a difference in When cultural differences regularly make a difference in interaction between members of groups, the social interaction between members of groups, the social relationship has an ethnic element. Ethnicity refers both to relationship has an ethnic element. Ethnicity refers both to aspects of gain and loss in interaction, and to aspects of aspects of gain and loss in interaction, and to aspects of meaning in the creation of identity. In this way, it has a meaning in the creation of identity. In this way, it has a political, organisational aspect as well as a symbolic one. political, organisational aspect as well as a symbolic one.

Ethnic groups tend to have myths of common origin, and they Ethnic groups tend to have myths of common origin, and they nearly always have ideologies encouraging endogamy, which nearly always have ideologies encouraging endogamy, which may nevertheless be of highly varying practical importance. may nevertheless be of highly varying practical importance.