identity: race, culture, gender, & sexuality review ch. 5
TRANSCRIPT
Identity: Race, Culture, Gender, &
Sexuality ReviewCh. 5
Identity Big Ideas Identity Ethnicity
Distribution Ethnic Islands, Ethnic neighborhoods, Ethnic Conflict, &
Enclaves
Race Segregation
Gender Gendered Space Power Relationships
Sexuality
Identity How we make sense of ourselves We construct our own identities Vary across scales, & affect others across scales. Are fluid, constantly changing, shifting, &
becoming We work towards an identity that meshes with who
and where we are at any given point in time. We also define others
Identifying against – we define the “other” and define ourselves as “not the other”
What is Ethnicity? Often confused with culture
Includes culture, but also encompasses many other ideas
Based on how people choose to identify themselves A social group that defines itself based on factors such
as common culture traits or a common history, race, or geographic region.
Ethnicity Groups define what constitutes membership Several theories exist why humans organize
themselves into ethnic groups. Some believe people are born with an instinctive sense
of ethnic identity. Pervasiveness of ethnocentrism – attitude of cultural
superiority Ethnicity is socially constructed. Ethnic identity is a
result of the interaction among different groups of people.
Ethnic Neighborhoods At the smallest geographic scale, we can identify
ethnic neighborhoods in many towns and cities. Areas with concentrated populations of a particular
ethnic group Can change their ethnic identity over time
Ethnic groups can be locked into a distinct geographic area Historically, European Jews were restricted to certain
areas – ghettos Reflected the mistrust & ethnic hatred, but can provide
a degree of protection Spatial reasons for segregation
New laws can be passed Segregated groups can choose to live together rather
than assimilating or moving
Ethnic distribution - US US – every 10 years, Census conducts an
enumeration of the population Survey identifies three main ethnicities
Asian Americans – from countries in AsiaAfrican Americans – identify as a group with cultural origins in
AfricaHispanic – from Spanish-speaking countries
Ethnic groups may live in different regions and particular communities Hispanics – clustered in Southwest African-Americans – clustered in Southeast Asian Americans – clustered in the West
Ethnic Neighborhoods African American & Hispanic are highly
clustered in urban areas I.E. Chicago – neighborhoods in the south and
west side have extensive African American clusters
I.E. Los Angeles – African Americans in south-central; Hispanics in east; Asian Americans in south and west.
Ethnic Islands Larger than ethnic neighborhoods or ethnoburbs Ares of ethnic concentration in rural, or non-
urban areas Settled after the mid-19th century (US & Canada) Cluster migration – the settlement of a whole area en
masse by a particular ethnic group Chain migration also assisted in creation of ethnic
islands.
Ethnic conflict - competition Ethnicity and nationality are similar concepts in that
membership is defined through shared cultural values Nationality differs from ethnicity in terms of legal standing. Defined specifically through shared experiences derived from
voting, obtaining a passport, and performing civic duties.
Confusion between the two can lead to violent conflicts Lebanon – 60% Muslim & 40% Christian. Christians consider
themselves ethnically descended from the Ancient Phoenicians. When government system was created Christians controlled a majority.
Sri Lanka – 3 principal ethnicities (Sinhalese, Tamil, and Moors) dispute between Sinhalese and Tamil date back more than 2000 years. Tamil feel discriminated against by Sinhalese.
Ethnic conflict - divisionSouth Asia
Pakistan & India – basis of separation was ethnicityIndia majority HinduPakistan majority Muslim
KurdsLive in the Caucasus MountainsAfter WWI, created an independent state of Kurdistan1923 – became part of TurkeyToday, the Kurds are split among several countriesTurkey has tried repeatedly to suppress the Kurdish culture, including outlawing their language.
Ethnic Conflict – Cleansing & Genocide Ethnic cleansing – process where a more powerful ethnic group
forcibly removes a less powerful one to create ethnically homogeneous region Removal of all members of less powerful ethnicity – men & women,
young & old. In recent years , carried out primarily in Europe and Africa
Nazi Europe – deportation of Jews, Gypsies, & other undesirable groups
Bosnia (1993) – ethnic cleansing of the Bosnian Muslims Serb & Croats fought to reunite the portions that they inhabited with Serbia
and Croatia, respectively.
Kosovo (late 1990s) Part of Serbia, with ethnic Albanians compromised 90% of the
population Serbs launched a 4 part campaign of ethnic cleansing By 1999, had forced 750,000 pf the 2million Albanians from their
homes.
Ethnic Conflict – Cleansing & Genocide (continued)
Widespread in Africa because of the colonial boundaries.
Northeastern Africa – Sudan Arab nomads (Janjaweed) crushed Darfur’s black
population 480,000 killed; 2.8 million forced to live in refugee
camps
Somalia Several different ethnic groups vying for control
Rwanda (1994) – Hutus vs. Tutsi Congo (late 1990s) – Hutus & Mayi Mayi vs. Tutsi
Race A categorization of humans based on skin color & other
physical characteristics Categories are social & political constructions because
they are based on ideas that some biological differences are more important than others
An identity that is often assigned.
SegregationResidential segregation
Historically states, cities, & towns passed laws outlining residential segregation
Disallowing the migration of certain racial groups into neighborhoods.
Douglas Massey & Nancy Denton – defined as a degree to which two or more groups live separately from one another, in different parts of the urban environment.
Most residentially segregated large metropolitan area for African Americans is Milwaukee WisconsinSecond, Detroit Michigan
Least segregated area is Orange County, California; followed by San Jose, California.
Gender Refers to the societal norms and behaviors that are
expected of males or females. Geographers have increasingly looked at gender as
a source of identity. Believe that society shapes spaces based on socially
defined gender roles & that gender affects the way we interact with the world. Gendered – places designed for women or for men.
Gender roles are not the same in all countries.
Power Relationships Assumptions and structures about who is in control,
who has power over others. Affect identities directly and cultural landscapes Can also subjugate entire groups of people.
Society enforces ideas about the ways people should behave
Women in Sub-Saharan Africa Populate much of the rural areas. Society and governments work in conjunction to subjugate
women Have heavy responsibilities and few rights. Produce estimate 70% of the regions food
India – Dowry Deaths Murders of brides (often by burning) when a
dispute arises over dowry Difficult to “legislate away” the power relationships
that lead to dowry deathsWomen still remain disempowered in much of Indian
societiesFemale infanticide is also tied to the
disempowerment of women. Rescaling issues to the global scale has the
potential to draw attention to the social ills.
Sexuality Cultures decide what is “normal” sexually Glen Elder, Lawrence Knopp, Heidi Nast – argue that most
social science is written in a heteronormative way The default subject in the minds of the academics who write
studies is heterosexual, white, & male. Initial forays focused largely on where people with shared
“identity” cluster. Today, focusing not only on the distribution but also on the
theories behind the experiences, that explain and inform our understanding of sexuality and space.
Employ queer theory Theory that “highlights the contextual nature of opposition to the
heteronormative and focuses on the political engagement of “queers” with the heteronormative”