Race and Ethnicity
Dilworth-Anderson, P., Burton, L. M.,
& Johnson, L. B. (1993). Reframing
theories for understanding race,
ethnicity, and families. In P. G. Boss, W.
J. Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R. Schumm,
& S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.), Sourcebook of
family theories and methods: A
contextual approach (pp. 627-649).
New York: Plenum Press.
Definitions:
 Race:
 Cultural construction of identity based on
social description.
 From this perspective, race has a cultural
reality.
 Ethnicity:
 An experientially based identity that is part of
an ongoing process.
 It is part of the social self which contributes to
a personal sense of peoplehood as well as a
sense of shared identity with others form the
same group.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Definitions (cont.):
 Minority group:
 Any collective of people (e.g., women, Native-
Americans, African-Americans, HispanicAmericans) that is assigned a low social
position.
 This low social position reflects oppression,
suppression, and discrimination that is
experienced in almost all aspects of life.
 Culture: a subjective and objective
expression of self which represents the
encompassing aspects of a person’s life;
it includes racial and ethnic
 rituals
 symbols
 language
 general patterns of behavior.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Impact of Assumptions, Values,
and Ethnic Reality
 From age four, European-American
children hold negative attitudes toward
other groups (Aboud, 1987) which are
reinforced at all levels (e.g., from parents,
media, teachers) (Phinney & Rotheram,
1987).
 Values and scientific truths are confused
when scholars uncritically use their
personal cultural frameworks to define
and report on a culture other than their
own.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Three Approaches to Value
Intrusion in Social Science:
 Value rejection: suggest that social
scientists can be objective so values do
not influence theory and research.
 Value separation: approach social
science as if it is possible to separate
values from research and theory.
 Value espousal: scholars should clearly
articulate their values so that readers
may understand the complete nature of
the research.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Example of Research Which
Reflects Bias:
 Moynihan (1965), a European-American:
 Described deterioration of African-American
families.
 Suggested that social policies should be
developed which would change their “inferior”
values and structure.
 Hill (1972), an African-American:
 Observed the resilience of African-American
families.
 Recommended social policies which would
build on these strengths.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Dimensions Which Influence
Thinking About Diversity
 Social climate and social change
influence theory (e.g., genetic pathology
versus cultural relativity), research, and
practice.
 Presence of minorities in studies of the
family and method of group comparison.
 Definition of the family (e.g., nuclear
versus extended; blood relationship
versus other networks known as “fictive
kin”).
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Creating New Ways of Thinking
 Adopt a multi-disciplinary perspective in
order to avoid discipline-bound truths.
 Identify and use culturally relevant
concepts: examine various
methodologies to understand minority
families; examine culture and
experiences expressed through
 art,
 music,
 dance,
 literature,
 and folktales.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Cultural Relevance in Existing
Theory
 The Life Course Perspective
 Strengths for studying diversity:
It is based on an interdisciplinary way of
thinking.
It is flexible and dynamic, focusing on the
interlocking nature of individual trajectories,
re:
 temporal motion
 culture
 social change
 Modified perspective: “Kin-scripts framework”
reviews
temporal and interdependent dimensions of
role transitions
transmission of family norms
process of negotiation and reciprocity
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Cultural Relevance in Existing
Theory (cont.)
 Family Stress Theory
 Limited attempts to make this approach
culturally relevant.
 Suggestions to enhance cultural relevance:
Recognize that minority families emphasize
survival over adaptation; adaptation is a
fundamental theme in family stress theory.
Survival suggests an ongoing struggle to
maintain psychosocial balance without loss
of identity.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Cultural Relevance in Existing
Theory (cont.)
 Feminist Ideology:
 Some scholars (e.g., Collins, 1990; Giddings,
1984; La Rue, 1970) dispute a central feminist
assumption: they object to the tenet that
women are oppressed.
 Rather, these scholars suggest that
opportunities for women are restricted,
suggesting that they experience suppression.
 Distinction between terms:
Oppression refers to almost total restriction
from access to benefits, rights, and
privileges in society.
Suppression refers to a lesser degree of
restriction.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson