Sociology
Chapter 10
Racial and Ethnic Relations
Preview
Section 1: Race, Ethnicity, and the Social
Structure
Section 2: Patterns of Intergroup Relations
Section 3: Minority Groups in the United States
Chapter Wrap-Up
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 1: Race, Ethnicity, and the
Social Structure
Read to Discover
• How do sociologists define the terms race,
ethnicity, and minority group?
• What characteristics distinguish minority
groups from one another?
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 1: Race, Ethnicity, and the
Social Structure
• Race—a category of people who share inherited
physical characteristics and whom others see as
being a distinct group
• Ethnicity—the set of cultural characteristics that
distinguishes one group from another
• Minority Group—a group of people who, because of
their physical characteristics or cultural practices, are
singled out and unequally treated
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 1: Race, Ethnicity, and the
Social Structure
Question
What are examples or characteristics
of race, ethnicity, and minority group?
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 1: Race, Ethnicity, and the
Social Structure
Negroid
Hispanic
Caucasoid
Mongoloid
Jewish
Ethnicity
Race
Minority
Group
Physical
Unequal
Many others
Endogamy
Strong bond
Ascribed
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 1: Race, Ethnicity, and the
Social Structure
Minority Group
• Identifiable physical or cultural characteristics
• Victims of unequal treatment
• Group membership is an ascribed status
• Members share strong bonds and a sense of loyalty
• Members tend to practice endogamy—marriage
within the group
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 2: Patterns of
Intergroup Relations
Read to Discover
• How do discrimination and prejudice differ?
• What are the most common patterns of
minority-group treatment?
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 2: Patterns of
Intergroup Relations
Question
What are the similarities and
differences between prejudice and
discrimination?
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 2: Patterns of
Intergroup Relations
Prejudice
Discrimination
 Denial of equal
 Unsupported
generalization
about a category
of people
 Involves attitudes
 Can be positive
 Can be
individual
or societal
 Sociological,
psychological
treatment
based on
group
membership
 Involves
behaviors
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 2: Patterns of
Intergroup Relations
Common Patterns of Minority Group Treatment
• Cultural Pluralism—allows each group within
society to keep its unique cultural identity
• Assimilation—blending of culturally distinct
groups into a single group with a common culture
and identity
• Legal Protection—legal efforts to ensure the
rights of minority groups
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 2: Patterns of
Intergroup Relations
• Segregation—practices that physically separate
a minority group from the dominant group
• Subjugation—the maintaining of control over a
group through force
• Population Transfer—transferring a minority
population to a new area
• Extermination—intentional destruction of the
entire targeted population, known as genocide
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 3: Minority Groups
in the United States
Read to Discover
• What are the conditions under which
minority groups in the United States live?
• How have government policies affected
the lives of minority groups in the United
States?
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 3: Minority Groups
in the United States
Question
Under what conditions do minority
groups in the United States live?
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 3: Minority Groups
in the United States
• African Americans—More than 12 percent of
the population; making gains toward equality, but
statistics show members are lagging in
education, employment, and income; becoming
more politically active
• Hispanics—rapidly growing population; now
country’s largest minority group; lagging in
income and education; diverse population
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 3: Minority Groups
in the United States
• Asian Americans—close to 4 percent of U.S.
population; contrast between first-generation
immigrants, who are often poor, and secondgeneration, many of whom succeed educationally
and financially; viewed as a “model minority,”
although this term is resented; diverse group
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 3: Minority Groups
in the United States
• Native Americans—often live on reservations;
high poverty and unemployment; poor education;
encouraged to assimilate; taking steps to
establish sources of income and better schools
• White Ethnics—includes some who assimilate
quickly and others who remain victims of
prejudice and discrimination; making gains in
religious tolerance; good education level
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 3: Minority Groups
in the United States
Question
How have government policies
affected the lives of minority groups
in the United States?
Sociology
Chapter 10
Section 3: Minority Groups
in the United States
Government Policies have both
helped and hindered minorities.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Segregation
Indian Citizenship Act
Indian Reservations
Native American Graves
Protection and
Repatriation Act
Japanese American
Internment Camps
during World War II
Expanded Immigration
Limited Immigration
Sociology
Chapter 10
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas
1. What characteristics are used to define race, ethnicity, and minority
groups?
2. How are discrimination and prejudice related?
3. List and describe the seven most common patterns of minority
treatment.
4. How are the experiences of African Americans, Hispanics, Asian
Americans, and American Indians similar? How are they different?
5. Why have sociologists studied the experiences of white ethnics?
6. Analyze changes such as in food and business in the majority
American culture resulting from adaptations to various American
Indian cultures.