New York Institute of Technology 24

Introduction

• Recap of the last session and personal anecdotes about recent eye surgery.

• Today's focus: Race and Ethnicity.

• Reminder: Second exam scheduled for Thursday.

Subordinate Groups and Minority Groups

• Subordinate Group: Also referred to as a minority group, characterized by less power and control compared to dominant groups.

  • Even if a group is numerically larger, it can still be a minority if it lacks power.

  • Historical Example: In the 1920s, African Americans were the majority in certain states but had significantly less power than white individuals.

  • Gender Example: Females make up over 50% of the population but are considered a minority group due to power disparities.

Characteristics of Subordinate Groups

1. Unequal Treatment: Members often face discrimination due to their lower power status.

2. Shared Characteristics: They typically share distinguishing physical or cultural traits from the majority group (e.g., language, skin color).

3. Membership: Generally involuntary; most are born into their group.

4. Solidarity: A strong sense of unity and collective identity often arises similar to an "us vs. them" mentality.

5. Intra-group Marriages: Members often marry within their group due to cultural and social factors.

Race vs. Ethnicity

• Definition of Race:

  • Classification based on physical differences, primarily skin color.

  • Considered a socially constructed concept rather than a scientific one.

• Ethnicity:

  • Defined by cultural patterns, such as language and traditions, often tied to national origin.

  • Individuals can identify with their nationality (e.g., Irish Americans, German Americans) without strong adherence to a specific cultural tradition.

Prejudice vs. Discrimination

• Prejudice: Negative attitudes or beliefs toward a group based on characteristics, not individual behavior.

• Discrimination: Actual actions that deny rights or opportunities to individuals based on group membership.

  • Example: Not hiring someone based on ethnicity rather than qualifications.

Theories of Prejudice

1. Scapegoat Theory: Blaming a minority group for one’s own failures or societal problems.

• Historical use in situations such as Nazi Germany's blame on Jews.

2. Authoritarian Personality Theory: Suggests that individuals raised in strict environments may react with prejudice against those who deviate from societal norms.

Functionalist Perspective on Race

• Society is composed of parts that work together to maintain stability.

• Racial hostility can serve various functions:

  • Moral justification for the status quo and social inequalities.

  • Can serve as rallying points for movements, both positive and negative.

Dysfunctions of Prejudice and Discrimination

1. Failed Use of Resources: Excluding individuals limits talent and leadership contributions.

2. Increased Social Problems: Heightened poverty, crime, and other issues.

3. Social Change Inhibition: Fear of changing the status quo prevents progress.

4. Disrespect for Law: Poor relations between communities and law enforcement due to systemic issues.

Intergroup Relations

1. Genocide: Systematic extermination of a group (e.g., Holocaust).

2. Expulsion: Forcing out a minority group (e.g., Native Americans onto reservations).

3. Internal Colonialism: Exploitation of a minority for economic benefits (e.g., slavery).

4. Segregation: Physical separation of groups leads to unequal opportunities (e.g., ongoing segregation in the U.S.).

5. Assimilation: Minority group members adopting dominant group characteristics, often pressured to conform.

6. Pluralism: Mutual respect enabling minority groups to maintain their cultural identities.

Panethnicity and Labels

• Panethnicity: Solidarity among different ethnic subgroups, often seen in broader labels that obscure individual differences.

• Issues arise when groups prefer specific identifiers over generalized labels (e.g., Hispanics).

Deprivation Concepts

• Absolute Deprivation: Living below the poverty line defined by government standards.

• Relative Deprivation: Feeling deprived compared to peers, often has more psychological and social impacts.

Institutional Discrimination

• Results from societal norms and structures leading to the unfair treatment of specific groups.

• Examples: Issues in job recruitment, educational testing metrics tailored to certain demographics, cycles of poverty and crime perpetuated by societal structures.

Affirmative Action and Reverse Discrimination

• Affirmative Action: Policies designed to improve opportunities for historically marginalized groups.

• Reverse Discrimination: Claims that these policies unfairly disadvantage those from historically privileged backgrounds (e.g., white males).

• Research indicates reverse discrimination cases are statistically rare.

Conclusion

• Overview of key concepts discussed in today's lecture, importance of recognizing the dynamics of race and ethnicity in social structures.

• Reminder to prepare for the upcoming exam on Thursday.