Week 6, Chapter 11: Race, Ethnicity & Racism

Minority Group

• Distinct physical & cultural characteristics == inequality

Race

• Socially Constructed

• Fundamental differences in humans; ancestry, phenotype

Ethnicity

• Cultural values & norms

• Distinct awareness of common cultural identity

• Differences in Power & Material wealth

Racism

• Attribution of Superiority / Inferiority to population sharing physical characteristics

• Prejudice == physical variations

Prejudice

• preconceived ideas about a group

• resistant to change

• positive / negative

Stereotyping

Thinking in terms of fixed & inflexible categories

Scapegoats

Individuals / Groups blamed for wrongs that were not their doing.

Discrimmination

• Actions that deny members resources & rewards obtainable by others

White Privilage

The unacknowledged & unearned assets that benefit whites in their everyday lives.

Institutional Racism

• Racism == respected & established institutions

• vs. through actions of bad people

Racial microagression

• Small slights, indignities, acts of disrespect

• hurtful BUT not intended

Scientific Racism

• Scientific research == superiority / inferiority

Apartheid

System of racial segregation established in South Africa.

Assimilation

• Acceptance of minority groups by the majority

• New groups = norms & values of dominant culture

Melting Pot

• ethnic differences == new patterns of behavior

Pluralism

• Model of ethnic relations

• US == retain their independent & separate identities BUT equal rights

Multiculturalism

• Ethnic groups: exist separately and share equally in economical & political life

Immigration

• Movement of ppl: INTO one country

• Purpose of settlement

Emigration

• Movement of ppl: OUT of one country

• Purpose of settlement

Diaspora

• Dispersal of ethnic population from original homeland

• Forced manner / Traumatic circumstances

Segregation

• Racial & Ethnic groups = SEPARATE

• Superior position of dominant groups

Genocide

The systematic, planned destruction of a racial, political or cultural group.

Ethnic Cleansing

• Ethnic homogeneity

• Mass expulsion of others