Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity

minority

a group of people with physical or cultural traits different from those of the dominant group in the society

race

people sharing certain inherited physical characteristics that are considered important within a society

ethnic minority

group identified by cultural, religious, or national characteristics

assimilation

the blending or fusing of minority groups into the dominant society

cultural pluralism

desire of a group to maintain some sense of identity separate from the dominant group

genocide

the systematic effort to destroy an entire population

subjugation

process by which a minority group is denied equal access to benefits of a society

de jure segregation

denial of equal access based on the law JURE=justice so law

de facto segregation

denial of equal access based on everyday practice.

prejudice

widely held negative attitudes toward a group (minority or majority) and its individual members.

racism

an extreme form of prejudice that assumes superiority of one group over others.

discrimination

treating people differently based on ethnicity, race, religion, or culture

hate crime

a criminal act motivated by prejudice

stereotype

a distorted, exaggerated or over simplified image applied to a category of people.

self-furfilling prophecy

an expectation that leads to behavior that causes the expectation to become reality

instituionalized discrimination

unfair practices that grow out of common behavior and attitude and that are a part of the structure of a society.

hidden unemployment

unemployment that includes people not counted in the traditional unemployment catagories

underclass

people typically unemployed who coem from families that have been poor from generations