Global Studies - Unit 1: Race, Ethnicity, & Culture

Race

An classification of humans, based on any of a combination of various physical characteristics, such as skin color, hair texture, facial features, or eye shape. (A social construct)

Ethnicity

 A self-defined group identity based on shared heritage, kinship, history, and culture.

Identity

refers to the qualities, beliefs, and relationships that make an individual or thing distinct and recognizable.

Culture

The beliefs, values, attitudes, practices, behaviors, and technologies shared by a society and passed down from generation to generation.

Implicit Bias 

the unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions

Unearned privilege/advantage

Unearned advantages granted to specific groups of people because of membership in a social group. 

Unearned disadvantage

Unfavorable treatment against groups and individuals based on their identity

Earned advantage

Privilege based on an individual’s personal hard work, respect for others, honesty, courage, leadership, etc. regardless of class, race, gender, and sexual orientation.

Earned disadvantage

Punishment/hardship experienced by an individual regardless of class, race, gender, and sexual orientation but based on personal dishonesty, lack of hard work, lack of respect for others, lack of integrity, or poor effort.

Individual racism

an individuals set of discriminatory attitudes and actions based on assumptions about race/skin color. 

Systemic racism

a system of laws and policies that promotes or perpetuates racial oppression

BIPOC

Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

Stereotype

A widely held but oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person.

Prejudice

An attitude/judgement about someone based on limited information, often on stereotypes. 

Bigotry

Extreme intolerance of or prejudice against religions, beliefs, ethnicities, and identities different from their own.

Discrimination

Unequal treatment based on identity as part of a group

White supremacy

the belief that the white race is inherently superior to other races and that white people should have control over people of other races

Microaggression

Statements or actions experienced as indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against a member of a marginalized group.

“Color blindness”

the idea that ignoring or overlooking racial and ethnic differences promotes racial harmony.

The Four I's & One S of Oppression

Idealogical, interpersonal, institutional, internalized, and systematic

Idealogical oppression

The belief that certain racial groups are naturally more intelligent or superior

Ex/ Racism, Sexism

interpersonal oppression

discriminatory or harmful actions people take against one another, often in daily interactions

Ex/ harassment, jokes, slurs used to put down another race

institutional oppression

mistreatment of individuals from specific social identity groups, embedded within the laws, customs, and practices of a society's major institutions (larger system)

Ex/ judicial system, educational systems, banking practices

internalized oppression

when individuals from marginalized groups adopt the negative messages, stereotypes, and values of the dominant group

Ex/ black people believing white people are naturally smarter than them

Systematic oppression 

the mistreatment of a social, ethnic or racial groups, perpetuated by socioeconomic structures

Ex/ Redlining in housing, underfunded schools