SOC1370 Race Relations in the U.S. Exam 1

Race

The socially constructed idea that the human species is divided into distinct groups based on inherited physical and behavioral differences

Ethnicity

Shared cultural traits and or national origin

Majority;Minority

Majority group: any social group that is dominant in society

Minority group: any social groups that are oppressed or stigmatized in society

Social Construction

Perceptions and ideas shared by a group which is actively and creatively produced by human beings, they are neither natural nor given

Stratification

Hierarchical ranking of groups that results in the unequal distribution of resources in society which generates social inequality

Marx's theory of stratification and inequality

Material conditions are the sole factor in the production of inequality

Class struggle is the reason for social change

The system of inequality benefits the ruling class

Weber’s theory on stratification and inequality

3 dimensions of stratification:

• Class (ownership of wealth

• Prestige (honor, esteem)

• Power (social and political influences)

Intersectionality

People belong to multiple groups which can intersect to create different experiences and affect life chances differently.

Ascribed Status

A social position assigned at birth, often based on characteristics such as race, gender, or family background.

Institutional discrimination

Unfair and unequal treatment of individuals or groups that is built into the policies, practices, and procedures of institutions like governments, schools, and businesses

Social Mobility

The up and down movement of persons and groups between or within a society’s various social class strata

Assimilation

Assimilation is the process by which individuals or minority groups adopt the cultural norms, values, and practices of a dominant culture, often resulting in the loss or dilution of their original cultural identity. This may involve changes in language, behaviors, and social practices, culminating in varying degrees of integration into the mainstream society. Assimilation can be voluntary or enforced and often influences socioeconomic opportunities and social interactions between cultural groups.

Acculturation

A kind of assimilation where minority groups adopt the majority group’s culture

Anglo-conformity

Inevitability of assimilation into the middle-class white anglo-saxon protestant culture

Melting pot theory

All the diverse peoples will blend their cultural differences into an altogether new breed - the American

race relations cycle

Four staged of race relations:

1. Contact

2. Conflict

3. Accommodation

4. Assimilation

Gordon’s classic theory of assimilation

There are separate distinct phases of adjustment to America:

1. Cultural assimilation

   • Minority groups adopt and learn the majority group’s culture and traditions

2. Marital assimilation

   • Minority groups intermarry with the majority groups

3. Identificatory assimilation

   • Minority groups begin to develop a sense of peoplehood based exclusively on their host society

4. Structural assimilation

   • Primary: Minority groups participate in intimate relationships like churches and schools of the dominant class

   • Secondary: Minority groups participate in large organizations like politics and corporations of the dominant class

Assumes assimilation is a linear evolutionary process

segmented assimilation

Quick upward mobility and integration into the societal mainstream: When groups are received favorably and possess high levels of human capital.

Downward assimilation: little upward mobility due to limited resources, lack of stable employment and income, little child education, and weak community ties.

Limited/selective assimilation: immigrant parents support children’s educational success, put reinforcement on traditional cultural values, and limit acculturation into American youth subculture.

pluralism (types of pluralism)

Cultural pluralism: Groups have not yet acculturated or integrated and they maintain a distinct separate identity

Structural pluralism: groups have acculturated but not integrated

Integration without acculturation

Enclave minority group

A group that maintains its distinct cultural identity while participating in the larger society, often through economic cooperation and social networks. e.g. little Italy and Chinatown

middleman minority group

A group that occupies an intermediate position in the social hierarchy, often acting as brokers or intermediaries between the dominant culture and other minority groups, typically engaging in commerce and trade.

Italian vs. Jewish immigrants

Italian:

Mainly from southern Italy of peasant status and rural origins who were ill-prepared for industrial jobs and were not considered white and subject to enclaves. Obtained economic success slower because they placed emphasis on family loyalty.

Jewish:

Mainly from Russia, Poland, and eastern Europe and were not considered white and subject to enclaves. Obtained economic success faster because they placed value in education and self-sacrifice.

structural mobility

A form of social mobility that occurs when changes in the structure of society, such as shifts in the economy or labor market, enable individuals or groups to improve their social status.

ethnic options

White people have an option when ethnicity applies to them and when it doesn’t and suggests that ethnicity is subjective and voluntary

Symbolic ethnicity

A concept where individuals express their ethnicity in a superficial or voluntary manner, often for social identity, without the burdens of day-to-day ethnic obligations. e.g. celebrating saint patricks day

Third generation interest

The phenomenon where the grandchildren of immigrants develop a greater interest in their ancestral heritage and cultural identity compared to their parents. This is due to the security that they are provided from being deeper rooted into America than their parents.

Prejudice (affective, cognitive)

Prejudice refers to preconceived opinions or attitudes about a person or group, often rooted in stereotypes and lacking direct experience with the individual or group in question. Affective prejudice is based on emotional responses, leading to feelings such as fear, hatred, or disdain towards a specific group. Cognitive prejudice involves the beliefs and stereotypes that people hold, which shape their understanding and perception of others based on race, ethnicity, gender, or other characteristics.

Discrimination

The practice of differential and unequal treatment of others, usually along racial, religious, ethnic, or gender lines

Scapegoat hypothesis

The scapegoat hypothesis posits that individuals or groups may be unfairly blamed for problems or negative outcomes experienced by others. This phenomenon often arises in situations of social tension, where people seek to project their frustrations or anxieties onto a vulnerable minority or subordinate group, leading to prejudice and discrimination against them as a means of displacing responsibility for societal issues.

Authoritarian Personality

One who desires an authoritarian social system and seeks obedience, subordination, and servile acceptance of authority. This perpetuates a fear of people who are different from one’s group and leads to prejudice against those with less power.

Stereotype

Oversimplified generalizations applied to an entire group without regard to individual differences

Sociological explanations of prejudice

Prejudice is the product of multiple causes that mainly stems from the relationships between racial groups

socialization

An individual learns to adjust to a group or society and behave in a manner approved by the group or society

split labor market

A concept suggesting that labor markets are divided along racial, ethnic, or gender lines, leading to competition between groups for jobs and wages. Ethnic antagonism results from exploitation by employers and economic competition between multiple groups of laborers with wage differentials

The vicious cycle

Contact situation leads to inferior status, which allows prejudice or racism, which leads to discrimination and perpetuates the inferior status.

social distance

The degree of intimacy that a person will accept in their relations with members of other groups

patterns of relationships between prejudice and discrimination

All-weather liberal: Not prejudiced and will not discriminate, but because they do not talk to minorities and are close minded

Fair-weather liberal: not prejudiced but will discriminate because they benefit from it e.g. not speaking against a racist joke

Timid Bigot: Have strong prejudice but will not discriminate

Active Bigot: Have strong prejudice and will discriminate

contact hypothesis

The theory that increased interaction between different racial or ethnic groups can reduce prejudice and improve relationships as long as the groups have equal status, common goals, interaction in noncompetitive tasks, and active endorsement of authority.

modern racism

A subtle and indirect form of racism the explains racial disparity as attributable to culture rather than biology

hate crimes

Criminal acts motivated by prejudice and bias against a particular group, often based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Major arguments of “Statement on Race”

The "Statement on Race" outlines that race is a social construct with no biological basis, emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context of race, and advocates for equality and justice in addressing racial issues.

Major arguments of “Defining Race: Comparative Perspectives”

The paper examines the social construction of race, its historical context, and the implications of racial categories on identity and social dynamics.

Major Arguments of “Getting under my skin”

The essay discusses the complexities of identity, race, and the personal experiences of individuals affected by racism, emphasizing the need for deeper understanding and empathy.

Major arguments of “Drawing the color line”

Analyzes the historical context of racial categorization in the U.S. and its implications for social inequality.

Major arguments of “Fix the census” and “U.S. Census Race Categories”

These arguments highlight the need for more accurate and inclusive racial classifications in the U.S. Census, emphasizing how current categories fail to reflect the complexity of racial identities and the social implications of misclassification.

Major arguments of “Race: The power of an illusion. The difference between us.”

This work argues that race is a social construct with no biological basis, emphasizing that the perceived differences among races are largely superficial and culturally constructed.

one drop rule

A social and legal principle asserting that any person with even a single ancestor of African descent is considered black, reflecting the historical context of racial classification in the U.S.

miscegenation

The marriage or cohabitation between persons of a different race

mulatto

A person of mixed white and black ancestry, often used in historical contexts to describe individuals with one black and one white parent.

racialization

The process by which race is assigned to the group based on certain bodily features or biological characteristics to mark certain persons for differential status and treatment

Thomas theorem/the definition of the situation

The outcome of a situation depends on an individual’s perception of it and not by the situation itself