Social Stratification: Race and Ethnicity

Hot Button Question

• Is it racist to use the term “white” to describe European Americans? Is it racist to use the term “non-white” to describe people of color?

Student Responses…NO!• No, I don’t think its racist to call white

people white, but if that’s allowed you should be able to say a black person is black. They are just adjectives.

• No, that is how they appear.• No, that just seems dumb.• No, because you are describing

someone and as long as you’re describing someone and not being mean, then it’s okay.

• No, if someone is sensitive to such terms, then the problem is in their sensitivity and not the words. Terms aren’t racist at all.

Student Responses…NO!• No, it’s just stating the truth to

describe someone• No, you are describing their skin color

although the color is inaccurate – Caucasians should be called peach or something. Their color is not the color of my notebook paper, LOL

• No, it’s a description word. It’s the same as saying brown hair or tall guy.

• No, I would never call someone “non-white”…that’s not racist, just weird

• No…each race is unique and would appropriately want to be called by race

Student Responses…NO!• No, neither term is racist. Using color

as an adjective just makes sense. Do we need a euphemism to differentiate between blonds and brunettes so we don’t offend anyone?

• I don’t think it is racist because you are just basing it off what you see

• No, it’s describing them and people on say “non-white” b/c if you described their race directly (African American, Asian, etc) then those colored people would get mad b/c they’re sensitive. It’s not intended to be racist in labeling.

Student Responses…UMMM…• I don’t think it’s racist for people to

call white people “white” because we live in a white-dominant society. But if other races called non-whites “non-whites”, then it would be considered racist.

• I don’t think that either are racist but I do think that either can be depending on how they are talked about.

• Technically, yes, because “white” is a multitude of different backgrounds and nationalities, but it’s not really an offensive term.

• Well it is technically racist because that is the definition of discrimination, but I would say if just used for labeling, it is not too bad

Student Responses…YES!

• While it’s not racist to label Caucasians as white, it is racist in a sense to deem all others “non-whites”. As that’s just pooling all other people (the majority) away from the whites.

• …because this implies white people are superior

• I think to some degree the term “non-white” could be racist because you never hear the term “non-black”

• Yes! It does not account for their personal heritage and though to a blind eye they appear the same, different European countries have different ethnicities, cultures, etc. The same goes for non-white

Student Responses…YES!

• Yes, because saying “non-white” sets a standard. It’s almost like saying “not a Ferrari” to every car you see.

• Yes, I think it is racist to refer to European Americans as “whites” and “non-white” to people of color. I believe, despite our color, race, ethnicity, etc, we are all American citizens

• I think it kind of is because I’m part European and nobody calls me white or associates me with being white.

Student Responses…YES!

• I think it is definitely racially insensitive to describe European Americans as “white” because white is a broad term and is used to describe a skin tone of a lighter person but not all Europeans are necessarily “white,” …It’s definitely racist to refer to all people of color as “non-white,” it’s ignorant, and ethnocentric and assumes that all people of color are just “non-white,” ignoring the fact that “people of color” includes more than one race

Part ONE: What is Race?

• Biological Definition (19th century):

• Caucasian, “white”• Negroid, “black”• Mongoloid, “yellow”• ***Please see attached for 19th

century descriptions• Race in America (2010 Census)

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Historically…

• Is race a biological fact?• The United Nations Education,

Scientific, and Cultural Organization (1950): “For all practical social purposes ‘race’ is not so much a biological phenomenon as a social myth.”

• Human Genome Project argues that there is no race gene or DNA test that can predict your race…but some evidence suggests that you can identify the geographic location of your ancestry.”

The Debate…

• Is race a biological fact?• “There is no doubt that there

exists genetic variation that corresponds to the general geographic origins of what we call race, but the amount of variation is nowhere nearly as great as most people believe.” (Conley 2011)

• The Social Construction of Race Explained

The Debate…

Sociologically…

• DEFINITION: a category of people who share inherited physical characteristics and whom others see as being a distinct group

• Sociologists are concerned with how people react to these physical characteristics & how these reactions affect individuals in society

Part TWO: What is Ethnicity?

What is Ethnicity?• DEFINITION: set of cultural

characteristics that distinguishes one group from another group

• Ethnic Group: People who share a common cultural background and a common sense of identity

• “Ethnic markers”–Physical characteristics, territoriality, history, language, religion, customs, beliefs, norms, traditions, culture, etc.

What is Ethnicity?

• Everyone has a race and an ethnicity

• Thick v. Thin Ethnicity–Degree to which your day-to-day decisions are affected by your ethnic identity

• Achieved v. Ascribed

Part THREE: Separate & Unequal

Maintenance of Inequality• Inequality is maintained &

enhanced by the establishment of of majority and minority groups

• Majority Group:• Culturally, politically &

economically dominant

Maintenance of Inequality

• Minority Group:• Category of people who share

physical characteristics or cultural practices that result in the group being denied equal treatment

Maintenance of Inequality• 5 Characteristics of a Minority

Group:1. Distinguishing physical

and/or cultural traits2. Group members are victims

of unequal treatment at hands of the dominant group

3. Membership in group is an ascribed status

4. Group members share a strong bond and a sense of group loyalty

5. Members tend to practice endogamy

Part FOUR: Patterns of Minority Group Treatment

• Cultural Pluralism: • Allows each group within

society to keep its unique cultural identity

• Ex: Switzerland – 3 official languages (FR, GR, ITAL)

Patterns of Treatment

• Assimilation: • Culturally distinct groups

blended into a single group with common culture

• Voluntary or forced• EX: “Melting Pot”;

Anglo-conformity

Patterns of Treatment

• Legal Protection: • Minority rights protected by

law• EX: Civil Rights Act of 1964,

Voting Rights Act of 1965, Affirmative Action

Patterns of Treatment

• Segregation: • Minority group physically

separated from the dominant group

• De jure (by law) or De Facto (societal norms)

• EX: Jim Crow Laws

Patterns of Treatment

• Subjugation: • Dominant group controls

every aspect of minority group life through force

• Slavery is the most extreme form of subjugation

• EX: Slavery; Apartheid

Patterns of Treatment

• Population Transfer: • Dominant group

moves minority group to new locations within or outside the country

• EX: Native American reservations; Japanese internment camps; Jewish ghettos/concentration camps

Patterns of Treatment

• Extermination: • Dominant group

attempts to destroy minority group

• Also called genocide/ethnic cleansing

• EX: Holocaust

Patterns of Treatment

Part FIVE: Ethnic Groups/Minority Groups in the U.S.

• White Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASPs):

• WHO?• English• WHEN?• Beginning in the 16th century

The White Population

• During the 16th & 17th centuries, the English emerged as the majority group

• Those arriving afterwards were required to assimilate

The White Population

• Resulted in: • Myth of the “American

Melting Pot”• “Anglo-conformity”

The White Population

• White Ethnic Americans (non-WASPs):

• WHO?• Germans, Irish, Italian &

Jewish• WHEN?• Beginning early 19th century

The White Population

The White Population

• Faced major hostility from WASPs

• (1880-1930); height of discrimination

• Clashes between “white ethnics” & black population due to competition over scarce & valued resources

• ***The Jewish community has a social mobility rate that is twice that of any other minority

• POPULATION BASICS:• 12.6% of U.S. population• MIGRATION:• Initially involuntary (slavery)• Migrated to northern

industrial centers during both world wars

The Black Population

• POLITICAL GAINS:• Outlawing of segregation• Passage of the Civil Rights

Act• Passage of Affirmative Action• Overall, African Americans

are still politically underrepresented

The Black Population

• EDUCATION:• HS graduation rates still

unequal to that of the white population (esp. black males)

• Differences still exist throughout undergraduate & graduate level degree programs

The Black Population

• ECONOMIC:• Remains a MAJOR

problem; median income continues to lag behind the national average

• Successes & gains in the middle class are often offset and overshadowed by the lower class

The Black Population

The Black Population

• WHY?• Large (disproportionate)

number of female headed households

• Workplace discrimination further widens the income gap

The Hispanic Population

• BASICS & PROBLEMS:• 16.3% of population; largest

minority group in U.S.• Low levels of education &

high rates of poverty; socioeconomic status is currently falling

• Attributed to recent immigration & problems with the English language

• Becoming increasingly segregated

The Hispanic Population

• MEXICAN AMERICANS:• Approximately 31 million;

63% of the American Hispanic population

• Poverty rate is twice the national average

• CUBAN AMERICANS:• Approximately 1.7 million;

3.5% of the American Hispanic population

• Most immigration occurred after 1959

• Highly educated, have a higher median family income & less impoverishment than other Hispanic groups

The Hispanic Population

The Hispanic Population

• PUERTO RICANS:• Approximately 4.6 million;

9.2% of the American Hispanic population

• Became U.S. citizens in 1917• Maintenance of a strong

ethnic identity

• The “Ideal” Minority (fair??)• BASICS:• 5.6% of American population• ETHNIC MAKEUP:• Chinese, Korean, Filipino,

Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese

The Asian Population

The Asian Population

• FACTS:• Fastest growing minority in

the U.S.• Account for ½ of all current

immigration into this country

The Native American Population

• 1.7% of population; 5.2 million

• Term refers to the many distinct people who migrated from Asia to the Americas thousands of years ago; original inhabitants of the Americas

• Native Americans still remain predominantly unaccultured and unassimilated

• The treatment that they receive, in combination with the reservation system, has created a shattered culture with individuals who cannot find a home in modern society or in their past

The Native American Population

Race & The 2012 Presidential

Election

Conclusions?

Predictions?

Hot Button Question

• What is the difference between equal opportunity and affirmative action? Do the two policies contradict each other?

Student Responses…

• Equal opportunity refers to a fair chance while affirmative action gives one group an advantage in hopes it will create a fair playing field.

• Affirmative action is attempting to create equal opportunity by changing the availability of opportunity. Of course they contradict each other.

• Equal opportunity is making sure inner city schools and poor schools give their students the same opportunities to succeed as richer area schools. Affirmative action is admitting a less qualified student on terms of race. It is B.S.

Student Responses…

• Equal opportunity and Affirmative Action by definition are different, but in practice they are similar. The problem with them is jobs that were traditionally held by whites are now being taken by other minorities. The whites see the change and think that it’s unfair that “their” jobs are being lost to colored or Latino people. In order to reach “equal opportunity,” whites need to let other minorities catch up, but they resist.

Hot Button Question

• Do you support or oppose the idea of racial profiling (for example, greater scrutiny of Arab passengers) in airport security? What about traffic stops? Where does one draw the line?

Student Responses…OPPOSE!

• I strongly oppose racial profiling in anything of these sorts. There is no basis that an Arab-looking person should be suspected more than a white person. There is no reason why towns across the south should resist the building of mosques, yet is has happened almost everywhere, including Alpharetta. It’s racist, hypocritical, and it needs to stop.

• I do not support the idea of racial profiling. I think it’s really sad that people have stereo-typed certain races as criminals. It taints the race as well as the individuals in it. Our country prides itself on being fair yet we just fear what we don’t know or understand.

Student Responses…OPPOSE!• I oppose the idea of racial profiling in

all areas because it allows for prejudice and discrimination to sink in and we should be working away from those ideas.

• I do not support the idea of racial profiling. I think it’s really sad that people have stereo-typed certain races as criminals. It taints the race as well as the individuals in it. Our country prides itself on being fair yet we just fear what we don’t know or understand.

• That is the absolute worst thing people do. Sorry to say but not all Middle Eastern people are terrorists…Most serial killers are middle-aged white men but you don’t see them being stopped at the airport or in traffic.

Student Responses…UMM…• I support racial profiling in airports

ONLY because it is better to offend one person than end up with a downed plane. However, unless it has something to do with saving lives, I do not agree with it.

• I think that because of the state our country has been in it may be necessary, although I do hate seeing it in action like in airports. I don’t think it will be this heavy forever. I think the tension is just heavy right now with the almost recent killing of their Al Qaida leader. They want to take caution is all.

Student Responses…UMM…• I don’t like racial profiling at all but I

understand that it WILL happen. 9/11 was caused by Middle Eastern people so even though it’s not cool, we’re going to target people of that race more to try to protect our people more.

• Racial profiling is a tricky subject matter…I think if we were to start racial profiling in airports we should not single out one group. Everyone should have their criminal record pop up when you check in. Maybe an alert system where it says “suspected terrorist” or “wanted murderer.” Singling out one group is too socially wrong.

Student Responses…SUPPORT!• I endorse racial profiling in all

environments. Although it can seem racist, racial profiling is a logical solution to combating crime. The basis for this method draws on the statistical analysis that different races will be statistically more likely to commit a crime. When people in authority use statistics to predict if a person is doing something illegal, then they are more likely to catch that person in the act.

• I support the idea of racial profiling in airport security and traffic stops. You can draw the line with others are getting by.

• I support racial profiling; it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Part SIX: Prejudice & Discrimination

Prejudice & Discrimination• Negative interactions

between members of majority and minority groups may result in:

• Stereotype: an oversimplified, exaggerated, or unfavorable belief/generalization about a group of people

• Prejudice: an evaluation, or an attitude, in regards to a social group and its members

Prejudice & Discrimination

• Discrimination: negative behavior towards a group of people; denial of equal treatment based on group membership

• Racism: the belief that one’s own race or ethnic group is naturally superior to other races or ethnic groups

• Do prejudice and discrimination always go together?

• Merton’s Patterns of Prejudice & Discrimination

Prejudice & Discrimination

Prejudice & Discrimination

• Overt vs. Subtle Racism

• Microaggressions:

• Subtle verbal and non-verbal insults directed at non-whites, often done automatically or unconsciously

We will address institutional discrimination at the end of this part of our unit

Microaggressions“You look like you have some white in you.”A friend of a friend insists that I must be half white. I’m black. Both my parents are black. You’re just ignorant.In my college dining hall.

One of my best friends recently told me, “The first time I met you I didn’t know if we could be friends. I mean, you were really smart and I thought you’d be one of those obnoxious Indians talking about your GPA all the time, I’m glad I realized that you’re different and waaay more chill than the rest of them.” Then she expected me to thank her for this “compliment”.

“Really? YOU’VE never been out of the country? You were BORN here?”My roommate to my Chinese & Filipino friend, as we were talking about our college study abroad plans, and my friend and I mentioned that neither of us had traveled outside the United States before. What Kind

of Asian are You?

“You speak so well for a _________”

Theories/Sources of Prejudice & Discrimination

• Cultural:• Social Environment –

socialization/norms• Psychological:

– Personality – authoritarians, conformists, angry, likely to blame others

– Scapegoating - blaming others when cause or resolution to problems is unknown or out of one’s reach• Prejudice is more likely to MORE common among people who are disadvantaged themselves

Theories of Prejudice & Discrimination

• Conflict:• Grows out of competition for

scarce resources• Groups that gain power, create

institutions that rationalize & perpetuate the status quo

• Racial advantages are maintained through racism

Racism…Still an issue in America?In Game 4 of the 2013 World

Series between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, fans witnessed a game-ending…pickoff. Red Sox closer Koji Uehara (Japanese) caught Cardinals pinch-runner Kolten Wong (who is Hawaiian) and he was picked off at first base. America’s sports fan had something to say about “FOREIGNERS” playing America’s game.

Racism…Still an issue in America?Japanese born Kenichi Ebina

wins America’s Got Talent (2013 season).

Racism…Still an issue in America?On Sunday September 15, 2013,

Miss America 2014 was crowned - 24 year old Miss New York, Nina Davuluri. Born in Syracuse, New York and having lived in Oklahoma and Michigan, Nina Davuluri is the first ever Indian American crowned Miss America.

Racism…Still an issue in America?At the 2013 MLB All-Star Game,

New York born, United States citizen of Puerto Rican descent, Marc Anthony sang God Bless America…

Racism…Still an issue in America?10 year old San Antonio born

Mexican-American Sebastian de la Cruz was invited by the San Antonio Spurs to sing the National Anthem during the 2013 NBA finals …

What Would You Do?• Bike Theft• Car Vandalism• Muslim Discrimination

PART 7: Institutional Discrimination: Education

What is Institutional Racism?

• INSTITUTIONAL RACISM:• The persistence of racial

disadvantages through apparently neutral processes

• For example, corporations, universities, etc.

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Urban Graduation Rates

Detroit 22%Baltimore 39%New York City

39%

Cleveland 44%Los Angeles 44%Miami 45%Dallas 46%Denver 47%Memphis 49%Houston 49%

Inequities in Education

• Alumni First Policies: • University policy that gives

preferential treatment to students whose family members are alumni

• Problem?• Tracking: • The practice of putting students in

curriculum groups based on test scores or other criteria

• Problem?

Effects of Inequity• Minority & low income students are

disproportionately represented in the lower educational tracks. Furthermore, these students are more likely to be labeled learning disabled or emotionally disturbed

• (Source: Ellison 2008; Hallinan 2003)

• One in six black students attend a school that is almost entirely black; this proportion rises to one in four if only the Northwest & Midwest are considered.

• (Source: Frankenberg et al. 2003)

Effects of Inequity• If there has been any trend, it is that

the typical black student was less likely to have white classmates in 2000 than in 1970.

• (Source: Frankenberg et al. 2003; Renzulli and Evans 2005)

• What is it?• Is it real?• Experiences?• Why should we care?

• TRADING SCHOOLS

The Achievement Gap

• Roughly 1.2 million students did not graduate from high school in 2011; the lost lifetime earnings for that class of dropouts alone total $154 billion

• If just half of the nation’s dropouts had graduated they would likely have provided the following economic benefits to the nation:– $19 billion in increased home sales and

$741 million in increased annual auto sales

– 54,000 new jobs and $9.6 billion increase in the gross domestic product

– $713 million in increased annual state tax revenue

Why Should We Care?

• If the nation’s high schools were to graduate all students ready for college, the nation would likely save as much as $5.6 billion in college remediation costs and lost earnings

• Source: Alliance for Excellent Education (www.all4ed.org)

Why Should We Care?