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Exam Study Notes

Chapter 12: Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Americans

  • Sexual Orientation: Gender or genders to which a person is sexually attracted.
  • Sexual Identity: The way people think about themselves as sexual beings.
  • Origin of the Term "Lesbian": From the Greek island of Lesbos, birthplace of Sappho.
  • Homosexuality as a Diagnosable Illness:
    • Historically considered an illness in the U.S.
    • Most recently by the American Psychological Association.
  • Coming Out: Public disclosure of one’s gay sexual identity.
  • Acceptance of LGBT People: Europe is the most accepting part of the world.
  • Stonewall Rebellion: The first instance of LGBT people violently resisting mistreatment.
  • Setback in the 1990s: The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
  • Matthew Shepard Act of 2009: Updated the Hate Crime Statistics Act to include gender expression and sexual identity.
  • Churches Performing Same-Sex Marriages: Example: United Church of Christ.
  • Approval of Homosexuality Influenced By:
    • Religiosity (tends to decrease approval).
    • Education (tends to increase approval).
  • Predictor of Support for Gay Rights: A personal relationship with someone who is gay or lesbian.
  • President Clinton’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy: Resulted in the discharge of many homosexual racial minorities and women from the military.
  • Social Science Research on Same-Sex Parents: Suggests a positive effect on their children.
  • Historical Parallels: Seneca Falls is to women’s rights as Stonewall is to gay rights.

Chapter 13: Dominant Minority Relations in Cross-National Perspective

  • Least Diverse Nations: Korea and Japan.
  • Unrest and Violence in Ireland: Evolved from Colonial British Rule & Religious conflict
  • Germany's New Challenges: A new wave of immigration.
  • Former Yugoslavia’s Complex Mix: Religious and ethnic backgrounds.
  • Primary Cause of Strife in Rwanda: Colonialism.
  • Tribal Groups in Rwanda Massacre: The Hutu and Tutsis.
  • Casualties in Rwandan Conflict: 800,000 people were murdered.
  • Germany’s Role in Rwanda: Germany put Tutsis in a position to govern the Hutus in a classic case of divide and conquer, largely setting the stage for the massacre.
  • Apartheid in South Africa: Ruled by the white minority (10% of the population) until recently.
  • Apartheid's Resemblance: Resembled Jim Crow Laws in the US.
  • First Black President of South Africa: Nelson Mandela.
  • Founding of Israel: A direct result of the horrors of the WWII Holocaust.
  • Brazil as a Colony: A colony of Portugal.
  • First Group in South Africa: The Dutch.
  • Race in Brazil: Race is seen as a series of categories that have ambiguous, indeterminate boundaries.
  • Duration of Apartheid in South Africa: 40 years.

Chapter 14: Minority Groups and U.S. Society

  • Group Benefiting from Industrialization: Descendants of European immigrants benefited most from the continuing industrialization of the United States in the twentieth century.
  • Questioning Assimilation: Since the 1960s, many minority spokespersons have questioned the wisdom of becoming assimilated in the United States.
    • Reason: They do not want to be a part of a society constructed by the systematic exploitation of minority groups.
  • Changes in the United States: The United States has become more tolerant and open, and minority group members can be found at the highest levels of success, affluence, and prestige.
    • Obvious Change: The decline of traditional racism and prejudice.
  • Outcome of Contact Situation: Determined by the prejudice of the dominant group
  • Prejudice vs. Discrimination:
    • Prejudice: An attitude.
    • Discrimination: A behavior.
  • Institutional Discrimination: Often difficult to identify and measure because the individuals who implement it may be non-prejudiced and unaware of what they are doing.
  • Stereotypes Examples: “All women cry easily” and “all Jews are greedy.”
  • Traditional Assimilation Model: Protestant “old” immigrants from Northern and Western Europe best fits this model.
  • Definition of Minority Group: Singled out for differential and unequal treatment.
  • What is stratification: Stratification is another term for class and the unequal distribution of valued resources.
  • Institutional Discrimination: When entire groups are treated unfairly and unequally in the institutions of the larger society
  • U.S. Citizens Threatened by Immigrants: Fear of danger to jobs, economy, and cultural integrity.