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2. Sociologists have specific definitions particular to their field of study for minority, race, and ethnicity. Ethnic minorities have historically been subjected to prejudice and discrimination. Section 1-Preview

3. Minorities • A minority population is defined by something more than size or number. • A minority has several key features: • A minority has distinctive physical or cultural characteristics that can be used to separate it from the majority. Section 1

4. Minorities (cont.) • The minority is dominated by the majority. • Minority traits are often believed by the dominant majority to be inferior. • Members of the minority have a common sense of identity, with strong group loyalty. • The majority determines who belongs to the minority through ascribed status. Section 1

5. Defining Race • Members of a race share certain biologically-inherited physical characteristics that are considered equally important within a society. • Sociologists focus more on the social attitudes and characteristics that relate to race more than physical differences. Section 1

6. Defining Race (cont.) • There is no scientific evidence that connects any racial characteristic with innate superiority or inferiority. Section 1

7. Ethnicity • An ethnic minority is socially identified by unique characteristics related to culture or nationality. • This type of minority is a subculture defined by its own language, religion, values, beliefs, norms, and customs. Section 1

8. Ethnicity (cont.) • Negative attitudes toward ethnic minorities exist in part because of ethnocentrism (judging others in terms of one’s own cultural standards). • The majority may view a minority as inferior because they differ in beliefs, values, and norms. Attitudes of Americans Toward Immigrant Minorities Section 1

9. Patterns of racial and ethnic relations take two forms: assimilation and conflict. Patterns of assimilation include Anglo-conformity, melting pot, cultural pluralism, and accommodation. Conflict patterns include genocide, population transfer, and subjugation. Section 2-Preview

10. Patterns of Assimilation • Assimilation refers to the blending or fusing of minority groups into the dominant society. Section 2

11. Patterns of Assimilation (cont.) • Different forms of assimilation: • Anglo-conformity—immigrants are accepted as long as they conform; the most common pattern of assimilation in America. • Melting pot/tossed salad—all ethnic and racial minorities voluntarily blend together. Section 2

12. Patterns of Assimilation (cont.) • Cultural pluralism—immigrants maintain some of their “old” ways, which can result in introducing some of their culture to the United States. • Accommodation—a minority maintains its own culturally-unique way of life. Section 2

13. Patterns of Conflict • Different forms of conflict: • Genocide—the systematic effort to destroy an entire population. • Population transfer—a minority is forced either to move to a remote location or to leave entirely the territory controlled by the majority. Impact of the Holocaust Section 2

14. Patterns of Conflict(cont.) • Subjugation—the minority is denied equal access to the culture and lifestyle of the larger society; the most common pattern of conflict. • De jure segregation—subjugation based on the law. Section 2

15. Patterns of Conflict(cont.) • De facto segregation—a situation of segregation that exists regardless of what the law is. Section 2

16. Prejudice involves attitudes, while discrimination is about behavior. Prejudice often leads to discrimination. Conversely, in some instances, discrimination creates prejudiced attitudes through stereotyping. Each of the three major perspectives looks at different aspects of prejudice. Section 3-Preview

17. Prejudice, Racism, and Discrimination • To a sociologist, prejudice refers to the widely-held preconceptions of a group (minority or majority) and its individual members. • Prejudice involves a generalization based on biased or insufficient information. Section 3

18. Prejudice, Racism, and Discrimination(cont.) • Racism is an extreme form of prejudice. Racists believe that discrimination or exclusion is morally justified because of their own natural superiority. • Discrimination involves acting upon those biased opinions by treating people unfairly. Section 3

19. Hate Crimes • A hate crime is a criminal act that is motivated by extreme prejudice. • Each of the perspectives—functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionism—can help us understand reasons for hate crimes. Hate Groups in America Section 3

20. Stereotypes • A stereotype is a set of ideas—based on distortion, exaggeration, and oversimplification—that is applied to all members of a group. Section 3

21. The Functionalist Perspective • Negative aspects of prejudice and racism: • The social, political, educational, and economic costs to society are extremely high. • The safety and stability of the larger society are at risk due to violence. Section 3

22. The Functionalist Perspective (cont.) • Positive aspect of prejudice and racism: • The self-concepts within the majority group are strengthened due to a feeling of superiority. Section 3

23. The Conflict Perspective • According to the conflict theory, a majority uses prejudice and discrimination as weapons of power to control a minority. • They do this in order to increase control over property, goods, and other resources. • Minorities tend to view one another as competitors instead of allies in the struggle against the majority. Section 3

24. The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective • According to this perspective, members of a society learn to be prejudiced in much the same way that they learn to be patriotic. • Two stages in learning to be prejudiced: • Pregeneralized learning period—children overhear parents making racist statements, but they have not yet learned to separate people by race or ethnic group. • Total rejection stage—children can use physical clues to sort people into groups. Section 3

25. The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective (cont.) • Language itself can also reflect prejudices. • Self-fulfilling prophecy—an expectation that leads to behavior that then causes the expectation to become reality—also plays a large role in this perspective. • Members of a minority fail because of the low expectations they have for their own success. Prejudice and Discrimination Section 3

26. Discrimination in the United States has caused some ethnic and racial groups to lag behind the white majority in jobs, income, and education. Progress is being made, but gains remain fragile. African American, Latino, Asian American, Native American, and white ethnics are the largest minority groups in this country. Section 4-Preview

27. Institutionalized Discrimination • Institutionalized discrimination results from unfair practices that are part of the structure of society and that have grown out of traditional, accepted behaviors. • Examples: • Seniority systems • Public school systems U.S. Resident Minority Populations, 2000 and 2003 Section 4

28. African Americans • African Americans are the largest racial minority in the United States. • Reasons for their minority status: • Skin color and physical features • History as slaves Section 4

29. African Americans (cont.) • Hidden unemployment—discouraged workers who have stopped looking or part-time workers who would prefer to have full-time jobs. Majority and Minority Median Household Incomes Section 4

30. African Americans (cont.) • Inequalities: • African American income is 62% of what whites earn. • A lower percentage of African Americans are employed in higher paying professional positions. • The jobless rate of African Americans was slightly more than double that of whites in 2005. Section 4

31. African Americans (cont.) • Hidden unemployment rates are high. • Differences in unemployment rates between whites and African American workers exist even for college-educated people. • African American teenagers have a high unemployment rate. Section 4

32. African Americans (cont.) • Despite these inequalities, gains have been made: • More than 25% of African Americans work in professional and managerial positions. • Business ownership has been increasing dramatically. • African Americans have also increased their political presence. Section 4

33. African Americans (cont.) • Some scholars see an emergence of two black Americas—a growing black middle class and a black underclass. Section 4

34. Latinos • Latino is a term that refers to ethnic minorities from Latin America, a region that includes Mexico, Central America, South America, and the islands of the Caribbean. • Latinos: • are the largest minority group in America. • fall behind white Americans in formal education. Section 4

35. Latinos (cont.) • make an average income that is higher than that of African Americans but significantly lower than that of non-Latino whites. • are becoming a force in shaping American politics. U.S. Population by Race and Ethnicity, 2000 and 2050 Section 4

36. Native Americans • Native Americans, more than any other minority, are suffering today from the effects of hundreds of years of discrimination. • Native Americans are running casino-type gaming establishments, which is helping the quality of life for many families. • Many challenges, such as better health care and education, still need to be met. Section 4

37. Asian Americans • The road for Chinese Americans has not been easy since they began immigrating in the 1850s; however, today they are recognized as successful. • Japanese Americans also had a rocky beginning, but are now one of the most successful racial minorities in the U.S. Socioeconomic Characteristics of Minorities Section 4

38. Asian Americans (cont.) • Why are they so successful? • They have not had to deal with centuries of prejudice and discrimination like the African and Native Americans. • They have used the educational system for upward mobility. Section 4

39. White Ethnics • White ethnics are the descendents of immigrants from Eastern and Southern European nations, particularly Italy and Poland. • White ethnics also include Greek, Irish and Slavic people. • During the 1960s, white ethnics were labeled as being conservative, racist, pro-war “hardhats,” but this was not true. Section 4

40. White Ethnics (cont.) • White ethnics have not traditionally been victims of discrimination, but still feel the need to display their cultural and national origins. Section 4