SOCIOL 2C06 Lecture 9: Race and Ethnic Relations.docx
20 Nov 2014
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How people of different ethnic backgrounds are given different opportunities: race is seen as something that you are given, and are static/cannot change, race and ethnicity is actually socially constructed. Up until 1950s race was used as a conceptual category; independent variable, used to differentiate people: whites v. black, hispanic, indian, asian. Scientists question the scientific validity of differentiating people by race- not right. Variation of genes in contrast to other culture: not that different: objective definitions of ethnicity: ethnicity as fixed and static. What language do they speak: subjective approach to ethnicity: ethnicity identity as variable and flexible. Example 1 : experience of visible minority university students described (henry and. Tator) as they enter university, they are given more choices and more options to make different friends/ do different activities. Immigration policy before 1950 was shaped based on our shared values: assumptions that white europeans groups were better than all other races.
