Race & Ethnicity

These flashcards cover key concepts related to race and ethnicity as explored in the lecture on sociological perspectives.

IQ Scores

• IQ scores are flexible

• Average IQ of racial groups are a reflection of the social environment

Flynn Effect

• IQ score increase in 30 nations since the 1930’s

• Attributed to social factors

Jobseeker's ‘Resumé Whitening’

Minority applicants change names and experiences to appear more acceptable to employers.

Results of ‘Resume Whitening’

• Increased likelihood of interview callbacks for individuals who appeared ‘white’

• Highlights the impact of bias in hiring practices.

Institutional Racism

Inherent biases in social institutions that often go unnoticed by majority group members.

Colonialism

The control of one country over another by political, cultural, or economic means.

Internal Colonialism

A dominant group subjugating another within the same country.

Ethnic Group

Individuals who share perceived cultural markers, such as language or religion.

Scapegoat

A person or group blamed for problems not of their making.

Symbolic Interactionism

A sociological perspective focusing on how labels and identities are constructed through social interactions.

Intersectionality

The concept that individual identities (like race, gender, or class) interact and shape experiences.

Racial Formation Theory

Race is not biologically determined, but shaped by social, political, and economic forces.

Vertical Mosaic (John Porter)

A sociological theory that views society as stratified into distinct ethnic classes.

Systemic Racism

Racism that is embedded in and perpetuated by societal structures.

Canadian Genocide

The systemic extermination of Indigenous peoples in Canada, defined by international law.

Split Labour Market

Low-wage and high-wage workers of different races compete for the same jobs.

Contact Hypothesis

Racial prejudice can be reduced through positive interactions between different racial groups.

Critical Race Theory

Racial prejudices embedded in institutional practices.

The Viscous Circle of Racism

1. Physical traits used to distinguish groups and create social inequality

2. Different social conditions between superordinates and subordinates create behavioural differences

3. Perceptions of behavioural differences create stereotypes

Ethnic Groups Defined as…

• Objectively (language, culture, ancestry, etc)

• Subjectively (self-identification of group members)

Determining Economic Success of an Ethnic Group

1. Resources people posses (education, financial assets, etc)

2. Economic Opportunities open to them

Why Social Definitions Change

• Development of labels and identities is a process of negotiation

• Negotiation results in new ethnic identity

• If social context changes, the process restarts

Expulsion

Forcible removal of a group from a territory claimed by another group.

Pathways Embodying Discrimination

• Economic and social deprivation

• Segregation

• Exposure to toxic substances

• Socially inflicted trauma

• Targeted marketing of unhealthy items

• Inadequate health care, education, and social services

Ethnic Group Membership

1. Can have economic advantages

2. Can be politically useful

3. Tends to persist due to emotional support provided

Pluralism

Retention of racial/ethnic culture combined with equal access to basic social resources.

Six Degrees of Separation

1. Genocide

2. Expulsion

3. Slavery

4. Segregation

5. Pluralism

6. Assimilation

Singlehood

• Increase in single individuals globally

• Chloe Bow believes you can experience greater happiness

The Role of Family in Health

• Provides economic, social, and psychological resources

• Protects and threatens the health of members

Nuclear Family Trends

• Ideal family unit

• Decline since the 1800’s

Traditional Nuclear Family

• Husband works outside the home for pay

• Wife works inside the home without pay

The Vanier Institute Definition of Health

• Combo of 2+ people

• Bound through consent, birth/adoption, or placement

• Together assume responsibilities

Family Responsibilites

• Physical maintenance and care

• Addition of new members

• Socialization of children

• Social control of members

• Production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services

• Affection

A Functionalist Perspective

• Decrease in married families

• Increase in working mothers

• Leads to increased crime, drug use, poverty, and welfare dependency

Marriage

• Socially approved

• Presumably long-term

• Sexual and economic union

• Involves rights and obligations

George Murdock’s Study

• Comparative analysis of family structures across various cultures

• Identifying common patterns and functions of families

Functions of the Nuclear Family

1. Sexual regulation

2. Economic cooperation

3. Reproduction

4. Socialization

5. Emotional Support

Conflict Theorists

• Addresses wealth inequality leading to male dominance in traditional family structures

Feminist Perspective

• Family forms evolved as a reaction to changing power dynamics between genders

Impact of COVID-19

• Declined birth rates

• Marital priority changes

• Increased divorce rates

• Job/finance/housing concerns

• Focus on career advancements

Public Attitudes on Marriage

• Varying degrees of importance on legal marriage while planning lifelong commitments

Traditional Family Biases

• Monolithic

• Conservative

• Sexist

• Ageist

• Micro-structural

• Racist

• Heterosexist Bias

Love and Mate Selection

Partner selection was calculated to increase family prestige, economic benefits, and political advantages.

Social Influences on Love and Mate Selection

1. Marriage resources

2. Third parties

3. Demographic and compositional factors

Marital Satisfaction Factors

1. Economic forced

2. Divorce law

3. The family life cycle

4. Housework and child care

Divorce in Canada

• Before 1968 - adultery

• Divorce Act 1968 - widened reasons

• Today - no proof needed

Economic Effects of Divorce

• Women’s income usually falls

• Men’s income usually rises

Child Stress Factors After Divorce

• High level of parental conflict

• Decline in living standards

• Absence of a parent

Divorce Factors Influencing Men’s Suicide Rates

• Changing nature of intimacy

• Men’s inflexible roles and loss of honour

• Marriage is more positive for men

• Control in relationships

• Increasing importance of child care

• Social networks

Abortion

• 1892 - Criminal offence

• 1969 - “therapeutic” abortions

• 1988 - law struck down

• 1993 - Canada struck down banned abortion clinics

Factors that Shrink the Gap in Housework, Child and Senior Care

1. Similar earnings between the couple

2. Agreement on equality and division of labour

Heterosexual Cohabitation

• Unmarried couples living together

Civil Unions

• recognize the partnerships as having some or all of the legal rights of marriage

National Organization for Marriage

• A nonprofit organization against the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S.

Children in Homosexual Families

Some same-sex couples raise children who are

1. the offspring of previous, heterosexual marriages
2. adopted
3. conceived via artificial insemination

Beliefs on Children in Homosexual Families

1. develop a confused sexual identity

2. exhibit a tendency to become homosexuals

3. suffer discrimination from children and adults in the “straight” community

Critical Role of Government and Policies

• Increase minimum wage or social assistance to families

• Shape parental/family security

Criticisms against Family Support Policies

1. Policies encourage long-term dependence

2. Non-family child care is bad under three

3. Policies are expensive and paid for through high taxes

Sociology

• Term coined by Auguste Comte

• 1838

Sociology Involves…

• Ability to move from particular to general

• Seeing the strange in the familiar

The Sociological Imagination

• C. Wright Mills (1959)

• Translate personal troubles into public issues

Emile Durkheim

• 1858 - 1917

• Human behaviour is shaped by “social facts”

• Suicide rates varied with different degrees of social solidarity

Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide (Types)

• Altruistic - needs of group outweigh individual needs

• Egoistic - poor social integration

• Anomic - poor social regulation

• Fatalistic - excessive regulation, oppression

Moral Regulation

• Guidance a group provides through shared values and norms

Origins of the Sociological Imagination

1. Scientific Revolution (circa 1550) - possibility of a science of society

2. Democratic Revolution (circa 1750) - people can intervene to improve society

3. Industrial Revolution (circa 1775) - presented social problems that require solutions

Building Blocks of Sociology

1. Values

2. Theories

3. Research

What Is a Theory?

• Relationship between observations

• Explains

• Builds evidence to support

J. Philippe Rushton

• Three races ranked

• Asians, Whites, then Blacks

Theoretical Traditons

• Functionalism

• Conflict Theory

• Feminism

• Symbolic Interactionism

Micro vs. Macro Sociology

• Micro - examination of individual/small group

• Macro - examination of society as a whole

Founders of Sociology

• Émile Durkheim (1858–1917)

• Karl Marx (1818–83)

• Max Weber (1864–1920)

Functionalism (Durkheim)

• Macro focus

• Society is a complex system with parts working together

• Promotes stability and functionality

Conflict Theory (Marx, Weber)

• Macro focus

• Society in state of conflict due to power struggles

Karl Marx

• 1818 - 1883

• Societies develop through class struggle

• Capitalists - own and control production

• Working class - work, vulnerable to displacement, alienation

Max Weber

• 1864 - 1920

• Challenged Marxist view

• Religion supported the development of capitalism

Symbolic Interactionism

• Micro focus

• Subjective meanings formed through interaction

• Principles : meaning, language, thinking principle

George Mead

• 1863 - 1931

• Developed the concept of the "self"

• Emphasized the role of social interaction in the formation of identity

Central Concepts of Symbolic Interactionism

• Social self emerges

• I/Me

• Taking role of other

• Definition of situation

• Cooley “Looking Glass Self” (derive meaning from experience, shape self-perception based on how they believe others perceive them)

Modern Feminism

• Micro/Macro focus

• Male dom/female sub determined by social structures of power

• Elimination of gender inequality would benefit all

Harriet Martineau

• 1802 - 1876

• First woman sociologist/feminist

• Voting rights, higher education, gender equality in family

Essentialism

• Gender differences reflect biological differences

Social Constructionism

• Gender differences reflect different social positions

Essentialism Criticisms

• Ignores historical/cultural variability

• Tends to generalize from the average

• Little/no direct evidence

• Explanations ignore role of power

Gender Ideology

• Set of ideas about “appropriate” gender roles/behaviours

Gender Gap in Earnings

1. Gender discrimination

2. Women tend to be in low-wage jobs

3. Heavy domestic responsibilities reduce women’s pay

4. Women’s work is less valued

Sexual Assault Explanations

• Psychological (individual)

• Sociological (social conditions)

Sexual Harassment

• Quid pro quo - threats, bribery

• Hostile environment - jokes, touching, comments

Women’s Movement in Canada

1. Voting rights

2. Equal rights, elimination of sexual violence, controlled reproduction

3. Diversity, individualism

Streams of Feminism

1. Liberal (achieve gender equality through legal reforms)

2. Socialist (women’s relationship to the economy)

3. Radical (belief society prioritizes male experiences)

Black Plague

• 75-200 million deaths

• Bacillus spread by fleas on rats

• Rich more likely to live (less dense housing, improved sanitation)

Social Causes of Illness and Death

• Human-Environmental Factors (human activity shapes environment)

• Lifestyle Factors (smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, isolation)

• Factors related to the Public Health (hospitals, drinking water, sewage)

Environmental Racism

• Tendency for hazardous waste sites to be located near First Nations communities (minority groups)

Socioeconomic Status (SES) Impact

• People at lower-income levels tend to have shorter life spans and poorer health outcomes

Factors:

• High stress

• Development differences

• Lack of knowledge

• Unequal access

Social Causes of Disease

• Proximate (smoking, poor diet) tend to control distal

• Distal (inequality, social capital)

Racially Marginalized Groups Experience

• Labour segregation

• High unemployment

• Substandard housing

• Dangerous neighbourhoods

Gender Bias in Medical Research

• Male-dominated profession

• Considered male body as norm

• Little attention to women’s diseases/issues

The Cost of Being a Woman

• Health gender differences

• Fewer effective therapies

• Higher poverty rates

Canadian Health Care System

• Publicly financed

• Privately delivered

• Gov’t administrated (insurance plan)

Funding

• Medicare (provides access to universal coverage)

• Based upon single-player arrangement (OHIP)

Canadian Health Act (1984)

• Portable

• Comprehensive

• Accessible

• Universal

• Not-for-profit