Understanding Social Problems: Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to race, ethnicity, and immigration, drawing from the key concepts and definitions discussed in the lecture notes.

Minority Group

A category of people who have unequal access to positions of power, prestige, and wealth in a society and who tend to be targets of prejudice and discrimination.

Genocide

The annihilation of an entire nation or people.

Acculturation

The process of adopting the culture of a group different from the one in which a person was originally raised.

Institutional Racism

Systematic distribution of power, resources, and opportunity in ways that benefit the White community and disadvantage minority groups.

Prejudice

A preconceived opinion or bias that could be negative or positive.

Adaptive Discrimination

Discrimination that is based on the prejudice of others.

Hate Crimes

Unlawful acts of violence motivated by prejudice or bias.

Scientific Racism

The belief that human groups could be ranked into hierarchies based on observable characteristics.

Aversive Racism

A subtle form of racism involving feelings of discomfort, uneasiness, and fear.

Colorism

Prejudice or discrimination based on skin tone, often favoring lighter skin.

Structural-Functionalist Perspective

Views inequality as functional, where disadvantaged groups perform menial jobs.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Focuses on how individuals learn negative stereotypes and prejudicial attitudes through language.

Institutional Discrimination

Policies and practices within institutions that result in unequal treatment of minorities.