Race and Ethnic Studies

A Presentation byRawnsley May Aguasa and Clarissa Estioko

Race and Ethnicity

• Race– A socially defined category based on real or perceived

biological differences between groups of people– Focus: Physical features

• Ethnicity– A socially defined category based on common

language, religion, norms, customs, practices, and other cultural factors

– Focus: Culture

RACE

Race and Ethnicity

• Race and ethnicity are both reifications, or social constructions

• These are categories are based not mainly on science and facts but rather on opinions and social experiences/influences

• These change over time and do not have firm boundaries.

At one point in time, ETHNICITY may be easily determined based on RACE

but

global conglomeration offered more choices and more changes to people around the world.

Race and Ethnicity• One may now reject his own, and embrace

another• One may now move from one region to another,

and assimilate his beliefs, actions, and customs to identify with that certain ethnic orientation but not with Race.

• Ethnicity may be displayed or hidden.• Race is often visible.• Race and Ethnicity may produce stereotypes,

prejudice, discrimination, and racism

Stereotypes, Prejudice,Discrimination, and Racism

• Stereotypes– Generalizations about the usual tendencies, behaviors, and/or

characteristics of members of a particular group– Example: All men are ______.

• Prejudice (a thought process) – Perception or attitude that prejudges a person on the basis of those

stereotypes (may be positive or negative)– Example: “Dumb blonds”

• Discrimination (an action)– Prejudice turned into action/behavior that treat others unfairly

because of their group membership – Example: Racism, sexism, ageism

• Racism (an ideology)– Beliefs about the superiority or inferiority of one racial or ethnic group– Also known as Racial Discrimination– Example: Anti-Semitism (hostile behavior toward Jews)

Ethnocide• Genocide

– Greek word genos (race/tribe) + cide (killing)– Acts committed against national, ethnical, racial, or religious groups– The term was created in regard to the Anti-Semitism by the Nazis in the

WWII• Ethnocide (ethnos + cide)

– According to Raphael Lemkin, ethnocide is an alternative term for genocide

– According to sociologists, it may be defined as a sub-type of genocide, or refer to crimes motivated by ethnicity

– It may be actions which, while not leading directly to death or harm of living members of a group, have a long-term effect on them

– Example: Effect of nuclear explosions on human health• Cultural Genocide

– Interchangeable with the term Ethnocide– Extermination of a culture that does not involve physical extermination

of its people

Ethnic Conflict

• A conflict between ethnic groups, often as a result of ethnic nationalism and/or ethnic hate.

• Some political scientists perceive ethnic conflict as a myth because they argue that the root causes of ethnic conflict do not involve ethnicity but rather institutional, political, and economic factors.

• Examples– Catholics vs. Protestants in Ireland– Jews vs. Palestinians in Middle East

Ethnicity in the Philippines• In the Philippines, being

ethnic is usually associated with being native or even indigenous.

• Ethnic people are known by most to be people who live in mountains or remote places, or people who speak “exotic” languages, and such.

• There are many ethnic individuals who chose to part with their community to pursue education, economic fulfillment, or simply try the modern way of living.

Ethnicity in the Philippines• Major Ethnic Groups

– Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Bisaya, Hiligaynon Ilonggo, Bikol, Waray

• Major Religions– Roman Catholic, Muslim, Evangelical, Iglesia ni Kristo, Aglipayan

• Capital: Metro Manila (16th Largest Urban Center in the World!)

• Language: Tagalog and English• Earliest Inhabitants

– Negritos, Austronesians/Malayo-Polynesian• Colonial Influences

– Spain and United States

Ethnicity in the Philippines

• Examples:– Mode of living (bahay kubo to modern house)– Clothes (barong, baro’t saya to modern clothes)– Deterioration of the fluency in the mother tongue

due to disuse at work, in school, at home– Fading of Filipino values (e.g. Respectfulness, po

and opo, Delicadeza)– Fall of close family ties– Embracing of the mestiza or chinita appearance

Ethnicity in the Philippines

• It is difficult to preserve one’s ethnicity in a technologically-advanced environment but it is not entirely impossible.

• Acceptance and pride in one’s roots are probably the best way to save one’s culture