Sociology unit 6 (race and ethnicity)

Categorization

Categories begin to appear natural overtime, we reinforce and enforce these categories in everyday life through social interactions

Essential constructionism

Traditional way of thinking about race and ethnicity, natural and permanent, based on biological factors

Social constructionism

Race and ethnicity are socially constructed categories

Evidence of social construction

Categorizing people based on their skin colour is rooted is historical context

All humans are 99% genetically similar

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward someone based on their membership in a group

Discrimination

Negative or positive treatment to someone because of their membership in a group

Symbolic ethnic identities

Where a racial group can CHOOSE their symbolic identities, like white Canadians or Americans

Overt racism

Formalized in law and policy

Expressed through segregation, exploitation

Institutional racism

Racism reflected in the way social institutions operate

Ideas and assumptions about social inequalities

Inform initial development of policies and programs

Multiculturalism

Political framework for the promotion of cultural differences as an integral part of society

The vertical mosaic

Realistic conflict theory

Prejudice stems from social group competition for valued resources or opportunities

Contact theory

Increased contact between antagonist groups will lead to going recognition of similarities and alter stereotypes about other groups

The invisible knapsack

White privilege is like an invisible knapsack of special provisions, assets, and advantages

The politics of distraction

Colonial entities divert attention aware from deep decolonization and community resurgence toward a state of agenda of cooperation and assimilation.

Rights

Reconciliation

Resources

Need to move from

Rights to responsibilities

Reconciliation to resurgence

Rights to responsibilities

Rights discourse can only take Indigenous decolonization so far, since human rights norms are based on state recognition of indigenous self-determination

Reconciliation to resurgence

Reconciliation without meaningful restitution only reinforces the status quo without holding anyone accountable, needs help to recover from past harms, needs community rather than state.

Objectives for indigenous

1. Restoration of indigenous practices

2. Increased reliance’s on traditional diets

3. Transmission of cultures

4. Strengthening of familial activities

5. Short and long term improvements in economies