Sociology 201 - Race and Ethnicity

When does stereotyping occur?

When we exaggerate oversimplified images of the characteristics of social categories

What is racism?

The combination of prejudice and discrimination

Why is race a social construction?

"racial" classifications are arbitrary, genetic differences between groups are small, genetic differences are behaviourally insignificant

Systemic racism

Racist practices, rules, and laws that have become institutionalized or made "part of the system"

Why do racial crimes occur?

1. Biological: Ethnic grouping is "natural"/encoded in our genes, discrimination, prejudice and ethnocentrism are natural and inevitable behaviours, people will often hurt members of their own ethnic group, people of different groups will often work together in antiracist campaigns
2. Psychological: Frustration with your life leads to aggression
3. Normative explanation: Prejudice and discrimination are passed down from generation to generation

Normative theory

Suggests that people are exposed to group norms, originating in functionalism, those exposed to prejudice will exhibit discriminatory behaviour

How can prejudice and discrimination be explained?

A persons definition of situations and reference group norms

Visible minority

People of non-Caucasian ethnicity, non-white skin colour, and non-Indigenous ancestry

Master narrative

The story a nation tells about itself to celebrate its past and present, it evolves over time, will often omit certain unpleasant events