CHAPTER 10: RACE AND
ETHNICITY
RACE AND ETHNICITY

What is race?

A category of people who have been
singled out as inferior or superior, often on the
basis of real or alleged physical characteristics such as: skin color,
hair texture, eye shape, or other attributes



Sociologists emphasize that race is a socially constructed reality
In fact, most humans are practically identical (genetically) to each
other, so classifying by race is overwhelmingly phonotypical (or only
skin deep)
Ethnic groups

An ethnic group is a collection of people distinguished, by others,
or by themselves, primarily on the basis of cultural or nationality
characteristics


Such as Irish Americans, Jewish Americans, Italian Americans, etc.
They all share five main characteristics

Cultural traits, community sense, ethnocentrism, ascribed
membership, and territoriality
DOMINANT AND SUBORDINATE GROUPS
Dominant Groups


A group that is considered
to be advantaged, and has
superior rights in a society
In the U.S.; whites with
European ancestry
(particularly males)
Subordinate Groups


A group whose members are
disadvantaged and
subjected to unequal
treatment by the dominant
group
In the U.S.; persons of color,
women, and most
immigrants

Most members of
subordinate groups regard
themselves as being subject
of collective discrimination
PREJUDICE

A negative attitude based on faulty
generalizations about members of selected
racial and ethnic groups

Prejudice can be positive or negative


From the Latin “prae-judicium,” meaning “before judgment”
Stereotypes and racism

Stereotypes: Overgeneralizations about the appearance,
behaviors, or other characteristics of members of particular
categories


i.e. the misunderstandings of Native American culture, portrayed in
college and professional mascots
Racism: A set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that is used to
justify the superior treatment of one racial or ethnic group, and
the inferior treatment of another racial or ethnic group

Can be overt or subtle (blatant or inferred); overt would be derogatory
remarks, subtle would be implying a certain race is “better suited” or
“natural” in positions like sports or leadership

Frustration-aggression hypothesis



According to Symbolic-Interactionists; prejudice is a
learned behavior


Children growing up do not have a frame of reference for
prejudice. Being praised for, or encouraging, certain jokes
or remarks reinforces prejudice
Theodor W. Adorno and the authoritarian
personality


Often blaming a minority group for societal problems, or a
focal point for their frustrations
Prejudiced individuals tend to enforce excessive
conformity, submissiveness to authority, intolerance,
insecurity, a high level of superstition, and rigid,
stereotypic thinking
Social distance
The extent to which people are willing to interact and
establish relationships with members of racial and
ethnic groups other than their own
 Some groups are identified as more desirable among
various ethnic groups

THEORIES AND MEASURING OF
PREJUDICE
Scapegoat: A person or group that is incapable of
offering resistance to the hostility or aggression of
others
Keep in mind that
a prejudice is an
attitude, whereas
discrimination is
taking action
DISCRIMINATION

Involves actions or practices of
dominant-group members
(or their representatives) that
have a harmful impact on
members of a subordinate
group


Prejudiced attitudes do not
necessarily lead to
discriminatory behavior
Genocide is the deliberate
systematic killing of an entire
people or nation
Merton’s Typology of Prejudice and
Discrimination
Prejudiced
Attitude?
Discriminatory
Behavior?
Unprejudiced
NonDiscriminator
No
No
Unprejudiced
Discriminator
No
Yes
Prejudiced
NonDiscriminator
Yes
No
Prejudiced
Discriminator
Yes
Yes
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON RACE

Symbolic-Interactionist
 Contact hypothesis


Functionalist
 Assimilation



A process by which members of subordinate racial and ethnic groups become
“absorbed” into the dominant culture
Can occur at various levels; such as, cultural, structural, biological, and
psychological
Conflict
 Economic stratification of races and classes, particularly caste
and class based discrimination


Contact between people from divergent groups should lead to favorable
attitudes
Others include internal colonialism, split-labor-market theory, and gendered,
racial, and social theories
*Critical Race Theory*
 Derived from ideas of civil rights leaders

Racism as an ingrained feature of society that affects everyone’s daily life
RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE U.S.
Native Americans
Believed to have migrated from Asia more than 10,000 years ago, currently
about 1.5% of population. Received full citizenship in 1924; historically, have had
limited opportunities and high unemployment and crime
White AngloPerhaps the most privileged group, biggest divergence in privileges is gender.
Saxon Protestants Many consider themselves as having no race or ethnicity.
(WASPs)
African
Americans
White Ethnic
Americans
Asian Americans
Roughly 40 million in U.S., involuntarily brought to America in mid 1600’s as
indentured servants and eventually slaves. Though freed in 1863, whites in
particular have subject them to many indignities. Though less prevalent today,
there are still prejudicial and discriminatory practices occurring.
Includes Irish, Italian, Jewish among many subgroups, prejudicial and
discriminatory practices shifted as immigration increased for different groups.
Now heavily assimilated, most people do not view having such an ethnic
background as negative.
Includes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino. Currently the fastest growing
minority group (5% and increasing), almost all received a high degree of
discrimination and even violence until after World War II.
Hispanic
Americans
From either Latin-America or Iberian peninsula, with recent immigration and
societal issues, they are currently receiving the majority of the stereotyping.
Many however are making a lasting impact on the country in terms of literature,
sports, and cultural preferences.
Middle Eastern
Americans
Around 1970’s immigration became prevalent, and up until the September
11 attacks had been an integral part of society. After the attacks, they
received intense scrutiny and in some instances, “hate” crimes.
REFERENCES AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
o
o
o
Sociology In Our Times (Seventh Edition)
o By: Diana Kendall
Notes incorporated
o By: James V. Thomas, NIU Professor (Emeritus)
o Formatted By: Jacob R. Kalnins, NIU student
Pictures Incorporated
o Clip Art (PowerPoint: 2007)
o Google Images: Sociology In Our Times