Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity

Chapter 8

8-2Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

Race: Myth & Reality

Race as “reality”A group with inherited physical

characteristics that distinguish it from another group.

Race as a social concept A means of classifying peopleRacial Superiority

8-3Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

Ethnic Groups

“Ethnicity” and “ethnic”: cultural characteristics

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Minority & Dominant Groups Minority Groups

A group of people who are singled out for unequal treatment and who regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination

Dominant GroupsA group that practises discrimination

against the minority groups

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Shared Characteristics of Minorities

Wagley & Harris (1958)Membership ascribed involuntarily at

birthTraits that distinguish the minority group

held in low esteem by dominant groupAre treated unequally by the dominant

groupTend to marry within their own groupDo not feel strong group solidarity

8-6Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

Prejudice, Discrimination, & Racism Discrimination

An action; unfair treatment directed at someone

PrejudiceAn attitude; leads to unfair

treatment of others Racism

Discrimination on the basis of race

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Individual & Institutional Discrimination

Individual DiscriminationThe negative treatment of one

person by another Institutional Discrimination

Routine, broad patterns of discrimination

The focus of sociology

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Theories of Prejudice

Psychological Perspectives

Frustration and Scapegoats• John Dollard

The Authoritarian Personality• Theodor Adorno

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Theories of Prejudice Sociological Perspectives

1. Functionalism• Muzafer & Carolyn Sherrif (1958)

2. Conflict Theory• Dual labour market & Reserve labour force

3. Symbolic Interactionism• Labels

• Selective Perception• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

8-10Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

Theories of Prejudice (cont.)

4. Feminism: multiracial feminism and inequality put forward by women of colour. They argue white men and women oppress lower-class women and men of disadvantaged races and ethnicities.

5. Postmodernism, ethnicity, & cultural identity

6. Postcolonialism, ethnicity, & cultural diversity

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Global Patterns of Intergroup Relations

GenocideCompartmentalize

Population TransferEthnic Cleansing

Internal Colonialism Segregation Assimilation Multiculturalism (Pluralism)

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Patterns of Intergroup Relations

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Major Classifications in Canada

Native Peoples The Two “Charter” Groups

FrenchEnglish

Other Ethnic Groups in Canada

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Ethnic Composition of Canada

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Looking Toward the Future

Political autonomy / independence of Quebec

Racial & ethnic diversity