Race/Ethnicity(or the importance of skin color and culture in

society)

Race/EthnicitySocial construction of race/ethnicityPrivilege of the dominantImmigration and new ethnic groupsSociological perspectives on race/ethnicityPatters of prejudice and discrimination

Social Construction of Race/EthnicityRacial formation: sociohistorical process in which

racial categories are created, inhibited, transformed, and destroyedQuantum“One-drop rule”

Stereotypes: unreliable generalizations about members of group that do not recognize individual differences

█ Racial group: minorities set apart from others by obvious physical differences

█ Ethnic group: Set apart from others primarily because of its national origin or distinctive cultural patterns

Racial/Ethnic Groups in the US, 2008

Projections of Racial/Ethnic Groups

Privilege of the DominantWhite privilege: Refers to the right or

immunities granted to people as a particular benefit or favor simply because they are White McIntosh’s “invisible knapsack”:

Rarely need to step out of comfort zones Skin color opens doors Not evaluated in racial terms Always surrounded by people who look like you

Immigration and New Ethnic GroupsSignificant segment of population of U.S.

made up of White ethnics whose ancestors arrived from Europe within the last 100 yearsSymbolic ethnicity: emphasis on concerns

such as ethnic food or political issues rather than deeper ties to one’s ethnic heritage

Immigration HistoryContemporary diversity of U.S. reflects

centuries of immigration1920s: preference to people from western

EuropeLate 1930s and early 1940s: allowed Jewish

refugees to escape Nazi regimeSince 1960s: policies encourage immigration of

people who have relatives in U.S. or those who have needed skills

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Functions of ImmigrationFor receiving society:

Alleviates labor shortagesFor sending nation:

Can relieve economies unable to support large numbers of people

Dysfunctions:Areas with high concentration of immigrants

may not meet short-term social needsLoss of skills to developing countries

Conflict Approach to ImmigrationWhite ethnics and racial minorities often

antagonistic toward one another because of economic competition

Theorists note how much of debate over immigration phrased in economic terms“They’re taking OUR jobs!”

Functionalist Perspectives on Race/EthnictyNash’s 3 functions that racially prejudiced beliefs provide to

the dominant group: Moral justification for maintaining unequal society Discourage subordinate groups from questioning their lowly status Racial myths encourage support for the existing order by introducing the

argument that any major societal change would only bring greater poverty to the subordinate group

Rose identified dysfunctions associated with racismSociety that practices discrimination fails to use resources

of all individualsDiscrimination aggravates social problemsSociety must invest time and money to defend barriers to

full participationRacial prejudice undercuts goodwill and diplomatic relations

between nations

Conflict Perspectives on Race/EthnictyExploitation theory: Racism keeps

members of subordinate groups in low-paying jobs, thereby supplying the capitalist ruling class with cheap laborWhen workers are fighting each other for

resources they are not advocating for social change or more equal redistribution of resources

Interactionist Perspective on Race/EthnicityLabeling perspective:

Racial profiling: Arbitrary action initiated by an authority based on race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than on person’s behavior

Authorities continue to rely on racial profiling, despite overwhelming evidence that it is misleading

“Driving while black”Contact hypothesis: interracial contact

between people of equal status in cooperative tasks will cause them to become less prejudiced and to abandon previous stereotypes

Patterns of Prejudice and DiscriminationPrejudice: Negative attitude toward an

entire category of peopleEthnocentrism: Tendency to assume one’s

culture and way of life are superior to othersRacism: Belief that one race is supreme and

others are innately inferiorHate crime: Criminal offense committed

because of the offender’s bias against a race, religion, ethnic group, national origin, or sexual orientation

Categorization of Reported Hate Crimes

Racism and DiscriminationColor-blind racism: Use of principle of race

neutrality to define racially unequal status quoProponents oppose affirmative action, public welfare

assistance, and government-funded health insuranceDiscrimination: denial of opportunities and

equal rights to individuals and groups based on some type of arbitrary biasDiscrimination persists even for educated and qualified

minority membersGlass ceiling: invisible barrier blocking promotion of

qualified individuals in work environment because of gender, race, or ethnicity

Institutional DiscriminationInstitutional discrimination: denial of

opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups that results from the normal operations of a societyAffirmative action: positive efforts to recruit

minority members or women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities

The single largest affirmative action program in US history was the GI Bill following WW2 – and it primarily benefited those who were white

Measuring DiscriminationComparing income data

White men earned 30% more money than Black men in 2008

Black women earned significantly less than White women

Highly educated Asian Americans trail well behind their White counterparts

Median Income by Race and Sex