SOC 150 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Acculturation
Chapter 9: Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
I. The Global Context: Diversity Worldwide
A. The Social Construction of Race and Ethnicity
1. Race as a Biological Concept
a. Race refers to a classification of people based on hereditary physical characteristics such as skin color, hair
texture, and the size and shape of the eyes, lips, and nose
b. The problem with race as a biological concept is that the physical traits used to mark a person’s race are
arbitrary – What if people were classified into races based on eye color?
c. Races are not scientifically valid because there are no objective, reliable, meaningful criteria scientists can
use to construct or identify racial groupings
2. Race as a Social Concept
a. The social construction of race means that the actual meaning of race lies not in people’s physical
characteristics, nut in historical treatment of different groups and the significance that society gives to what is
believed to differentiate so-called racial groups
b. People learn to perceive others according to whatever racial classification system exists in their culture
c. Incorporating both biological and social meanings of race, we define race as a category of people who are
perceived to share distinct physical characteristics that are deemed socially significant
3. Ethnicity as a Social Construction
a. Ethnicity which refers to a shared cultural heritage, nationality, or lineage, is also partly socially
constructed
B. Patterns of Racial and Ethnic Group Interaction
1. Genocide
a. Refers to the deliberate, systematic annihilation of an entire nation or people
2. Expulsion
a. Occurs when a dominant group forces a subordinate group to leave the country or live only in designated
areas of the country
3. Segregation
a. Refers to the physical separation of two groups in residence, workplace, and social functions
4. Acculturation
a. Refers to adopting the culture of a group different from the one in which a person was originally raised
5. Pluralism
a. Refers to a state in which racial and ethnic groups maintain their distinctness but respect each other and
have equal access to social resources
6. Assimilation
a. Is the process by which formerly distinct and separate groups merge and become integrated as one
(Sometimes referred to as “the melting pot”)
II. Racial and Ethnic Group Diversity in the United States
A. U.S. Census Data on Race and Hispanic Origin
1. Is Hispanic a Race or Ethnicity?
a. According to the US Government, Hispanic origin is considered an ethnicity, not a race; However, many
people, both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic, think otherwise
B. Mixed Race Identity
1. Antimiscegenation Laws
a. Laws banning interracial marriage until 1967, when the Supreme court declared these laws unconstitutional
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