Unit 3- Social Stratification:

Racism and Prejudice in America

“RACISM IS MAN'S GRAVEST THREAT TO MAN - THE MAXIMUM OF HATRED FOR A MINIMUM OF REASON.” 

-ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHE

WHITENESS

• White Tanning vs. Umbrellas and Scarves

• Asian Eye Surgery- Creating the Epicanthic Fold

• Ethnic “Whiteness”

• Beyonce

• Ashwariya Rai

• Obama

When you go to the beach, how much sunscreen do you use?

• What does this accomplish?

Do you see any rain?

RACIAL AND ETHNIC INEQUALITY

Chapter 10

MINORITY, RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS

• Racial Group-a group set apart from others because of obvious physical differences

• Examples-Whites, African-Americans, Asian Americans

• Ethnic Groups-set apart from others primarily because of national origin or distinctive cultural patterns

• Examples-Puerto Ricans, Jews, Polish Americans

ETHNICITY

• Set apart by national origins or distinctive cultural patterns

• Spanish-speaking-Hispanics or Latinos

• others: Jewish, Irish, Italian, Norwegian

• distinction between racial and ethnic minorities is not always clear

• distinction is socially significant-less physical differences in ethnicity-therefore stratification is less difficult

MINORITY GROUPS• Numerical Minority-any group

that makes up less than half of some larger population

• Examples-television actors, green-eyed people, tax lawyers, descendants of the Mayflower

• Not considered to be minorities in the Sociological sense

• Sociologists define minorities by economic or political power, or powerlessness, of that group

• Subordinate group whose members have significantly less control or power over their own lives than the members of the dominant group

FIVE BASIC PROPERTIES OF

A MINORITY GROUP

1. Share physical or cultural characteristics

- Each society arbitrarily decides which characteristics are important

2. Unequal treatment

- Social inequity may be created or maintained by social prejudice, discrimination, segregation, extermination

3. Membership is not voluntary

- Race and ethnicity are ascribed statuses

4. Strong sense of solidarity

- Group is the object of long term prejudice and discrimination- “us versus them” mentality

5. Generally marry others from the same group

- Members of dominant group is unwilling-minorities encourage solidarity

STEREOTYPING

• Unreliable generalization about all members of a group

• TV-almost all leading dramatic roles are cast by whites-even urban portrayals such as Friends are whites-blacks are heavily represented in crime-based dramas

German Stereotype

SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY AKA PYGMALION EFFECT

SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY

• In response to stereotypes, false definitions end up being accurate

• A person or group that is described as having particular characteristics begins to display those very traits

• Examples-bright child from working class family is told he would make a good carpenter

• Labeling theory-how a person comes to be labeled

• Especially devastating to minority groups

SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY

• Dominant group believes that the subordinate group lack the ability to perform in lucrative and important positions

• Denies them the training for these positions

• Minority group may see the entertainment or sports world as the only way to fame and fortune

• These same minority groups may help to convince the dominant group that their stereotypes are valid-

• Harry Edwards-studied the damaging effects of “innate Black athletic superiority” self fulfilling prophecy

• Only 2,500 blacks are making a living as professional athletes

• Black community needs to abandon its “blind belief in sport as an extraordinary route to social and economic salvation”

SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY

• African-Americans and other minority groups do not always accept stereotypes and self-fulfilling prophecies

• “Black is Beautiful” and “Red Power” rejecting traditional definitions and replaced them

• However, the use of the n-word is still a controversial topic today.

PREJUDICE

• Prejudice-negative attitude toward an entire category of people, often an ethnic or racial minority• Can result from

ethnocentrism-the tendency to assume that one’s culture and way of life represent the norm or are superior to all others

• Form of prejudice is racism-the belief that one’s race is supreme and all others are innately inferior

PREJUDICE• 1998-9,235 hate crimes -58%

racial bias-16% on sexual orientation-16% on religious bias-10% on ethnic bias

• Jasper, Texas-1998-3 white men, possibly tied to race-hate groups, tied up a black man, beat him with chains, and then dragged him on the back of their truck-until his body became dismembered

• Organized hate group activity is increasing-both reality and virtual reality

• 2,000 racial hatred websites on the internet in 1999

Emmitt Till

DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIOR• Discrimination-the process

of denying opportunities and equal rights to individuals or groups because of prejudice or other arbitrary reasons

• Singling out of a certain group or person due to their minority characteristics.

• Affirmative Action…

• DISCRIMINATION?

• NECESSARY?

• Meant to counter discrimination, but also highlights it.

RACISM

• Prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief; hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

• Prejudice and discrimination CREATE racism.

• Often visible, whereas prejudice is not always seen.

• Usually involves seeing oneself as the superior race.

Holy Smokes, Batman!

INSTITUTIONAL DISCRIMINATION

• Denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups that result from the normal operations of a society

US Commission on Civil Rights identified various forms:

1. Rules requiring that only English be spoken at a place of work, even when it is not a business necessity to restrict the use of other languages

2. Preferences shown by law and medical schools in the admission of children of wealthy and influential alumni, nearly all of whom are white

3. Restrictive employment-leave policies, coupled with prohibitions on part time work, that make it difficult for heads of single-parent families to obtain and keep jobs

HOW OFTEN DO THESETHINGS STILL EXIST?