Unit 3 - Ethnicity

Race

refers to the categorisation of a group of people based on physical characteristics such as skin colour, eye shape, hair type and bone structure

Why race is bad

form of generalisation that can lead to prejudice, pseudoscience

Ethnicity

refers to a shared cultural heritage and way of life

Ethnicity characteristics

• Language

• History

• Belief system

• Ancestry

• Clothing

• Food

• Customs

Othering

is a phenomenon in which some individuals or groups are defined and labelled as not fitting in within the norms of a social group; it plays a role in the formation of prejudices against people and groups

Othering evidence

Experience of ethnicity

refers to how people feel and interact within a group/s that they are a member, including their sense of belonging and inclusion

Cultural hybridity

a theory, informed by Stuart Hall, that describes the sense of ethnic diversity seen in dual or multiple ethnic identities

Stuart Hall’s theory of cultural hybridity

highlight that ethnicity identities are not fixed but are instead constantly in flux and shaped by historical and cultural factors

Cultural hybridity and the experience of ethnicity - Benefits

• Individuals may experience a sense of pride and feelings of belonging

• Individuals often can choose which features of their ethnicities to keep and celebrate

Cultural hybridity and the experience of ethnicity - Challenges

• People may feel ‘split’ between cultures

• They may feel that they don’t fully belong to a specific culture

• People may experience discrimination based on their customs and traditions

Ethnic Diversity

refers to the existence of multiple cultural groups in a specific geographic area

Australia’s cultural diversity

• 48.2% have at least one parent born overseas

• 24.8% speak a language other than English at home

• Net migration rate = 6.4 migrants per 1,000 people (CIA World Fact Book, 2025)

• Languages other than English = Mandarin (2.7%), Arabic (1.4%), Vietnamese (1.3%)

• Religions - No religion (38.9%), Catholic (20%), Anglican (9.8%), Islam (3.2%) and Hinduism (2.7%)

Similar (multicultural) country - Canada

• Ethnic groups - English (14.7%), French (11%), Indian (3.7%)

• Languages - English (official, 87.1%), French (official - 29.1%), Arabic (2.4%)

• Net migration - 5.4 migrants per 1,000 people (CIA World Fact Book, 2025)

• Religions - Christian (53.3%), Muslim (4.9%), Hindu (2.3%)

Differences (multicultural) country - Canada

Canada has two official languages, French and English reflecting the ethnic groups’ shared ancestry within the nation (CIA World Fact Book, 2025), Australia only has one official language being English

Dissimilar (monoculture/homogenous) country - Japan

• Ethnic groups - Japanese (95.5%)

• Languages - Japanese

• Religious - Shintoism (48.6%) and Buddhism (46.4%)

• Net migration race - 0.7 migrants per 1,000 people (CIA World Fact Book, 2025)

Multiculturalism

refers to the practice of several different cultures coexisting peacefully and equitably in a single country

Comparative perspective

refers to analysis involving the similarities and differences in experiences between cultures and across countries

Preventers

refers to factors that limit, obstruct or make it difficult for an individual or group to feel safe and included in multicultural Australia

Enablers

refers to factors that encourage, promote or make it possible for an individual of group to feel safe and included in multicultural society

Belonging

refers to the emotional experience of feeling secure and supported within a group. It includes the feelings of acceptance and inclusion amongst members of a particular society

Inclusion

refers to individuals and groups having the resources , opportunities and capabilities to learn, work, engage and have a voice in society

Multicultural (Micro-definition)

(a society compromised of many cultures) Australia

Cultural practices

refer to the customs and traditions that are unique to a certain ethnic group. They could include religious practices, traditional beliefs, forms of art, dietary habits and aspects of family life

Customs

include participating in festivals, maintaining more than one language, religious practices and eating unique food

Traditions

are cultural practices that occur regularly across time

Media representation

refers to the form and nature of the depiction of an ethnic group

Media

refers to the various forms of communication used to transmit information, entertainment or ideas to a larger audience: print, digital or electronic

Political factors

refers to the aspects of the structure, organisation and policies of a government or political system that can influence society and individual behaviour

Ethical Methodology

refers to the process used to conduct socially responsible research outlined by The Australian Sociological Association, including people who have agreed to take part, after being provided with information about the study, whose privacy is protected

Purpose of ethical methodology

• Participants are treated with respect

• Putting methods in place to prevent harm to participants

• Ensuring participants are aware of their rights including voluntary participation and withdrawal rights

• Results are reported honestly to ensure no harm is caused to participants

Voluntary participation

refers to the willing involvement of research participants, including the awareness of their right to refuse to participate in a research project without having to give a reason or justify their decision

Informed consent

refers to the formal agreement of an individual to participate in a research project

Privacy

refers to the use of methods, such as disguising personal identities in written and oral reports of the research, to protect the identity of participants

Confidentiality of data

refers to protecting the data gathered from research participants and storing it carefully and securely

Non-material Culture

refers to the intangible parts of culture that we cannot see, including language, values, norms and symbols

Material Culture

refers to tangible aspects of culture; things that we can see and touch, including objects, places and living things that have meaning for a group