Module 32, “Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity”

Functionalist Perspective

Analyzes how racial prejudice and discrimination serve functional roles for dominant groups in society.

Conflict Theory

Examines how economic structures lead to the exploitation and subordination of racial and ethnic minorities.

Labeling Theory

Focuses on how minorities are singled out for differential treatment, particularly by law enforcement.

Interactionist Perspective

Emphasizes the role of everyday interactions in shaping attitudes toward race and ethnicity, promoting tolerance or hostility.

Racial Profiling

Arbitrary action initiated by authorities based on an individual's race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than behavior.

Double Consciousness

A term coined by W. E. B. Dubois to describe the internal conflict experienced by marginalized groups who navigate multiple social realities.

Exploitation Theory

A theory positing that racism serves the economic interests of the ruling class by maintaining a pool of cheap labor.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic killing of a larger group, often based on race or ethnicity.

Assimilation

The process where a minority group adopts the culture of the dominant group, often at the expense of their own cultural identity.

Pluralism

A societal arrangement where various cultural groups maintain their own identities while coexisting peacefully.

Segregation

The physical and social separation of racial and ethnic groups, often enforced by the dominant group.

Amalgamation

The merging of multiple groups through intermarriage, creating a new cultural entity.