SOC 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Visible Minority, Infant Mortality, European Canadian
28 Jun 2018
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Topic 5 part 1
SOC105
Race
- A socially constructed reality not a significant biological reality?
Biological significance of race
There are no “pure races”
- Race refers to a genetically isolated group with distinctive gene frequencies
- Migration, exploration and invasion have led to the mixing of genetic material from
people around the world
Social construction of race
- Racialization: process whereby people define a group as a race based on physical
characteristics and in part on historical, cultural, and economic factors
- One drop rule- if a person had even a single drop of black blood they are considered
black
Shadeism
- Discrimination in communities based on skin
Race
- Historical roots of race starts in pre-colonial era- used to differentiate ethnicity – Irish
race, English race etc.
- People divided in world order
- Colour of skin, ethical practices, beliefs
- Black, white, brown etc.
- Categories based on religion, physical attributes
Minority, racial, and ethnic groups
Racial group
- A group that is set apart and treated differently from others because of perceived physical
differences
Ethnic group
- Group that is set apart from others primarily because of its national origin or distinctive
cultural patterns
Minority groups
- Any group that makes less than half of some larger population
- Subordinate group whose members have significantly less control or power over their
own lives than the members of a dominant or majority group have over their own
Minority racial and ethnic groups
- Not always easy to easy distinguish the two and many use the terms incorrectly and as
interchangeable
Race as a concept
- When biologists want to group people they look at DNA, blood type, not skin colour
- Biologists look at complicated genetics
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
- Biologists found there are more differences within social groups than between social
groups
- Conclude race is a social construct – race does not exist
- Attributes are genetics and insignificant
Race future of illusion
- Mitochondria- power cells of cells have own DNA you only get from mothers and
tracked DNA come from mothers in Africa
Apartheid
- Forced separation of races
- South Africa- test of pencil, if pencil in hair falls out their white and if pencil stays their
coloured
Colonialism
- Majority of people in world racialized- put in categories based on race
Race and ethnicity
Ethnic groups have the following characteristics
1. Unique cultural traits (clothing, music, religion)
2. A sense of community
3. A feeling of ethnocentrism
4. Ascribed status from birth
5. Territoriality
The social significance of race and ethnicity
- The dominant group rationalizes others and in doing so holds power over them
- Ethnicity and face form an hierarchy in which the only group not usually racialized is
“white”
- For example, in the media there is not usually an assumption that the actions of one white
person stands in for all white people
- What are the many meanings of the question “where are you from/”
Process of “othering” and referencing privilege and power differences
Othering- creating you as the other
Sociological terms
Majority and minority groups
- Refers to power as much as numbers
Majority
- A group that is advantaged and has superior resources and rights in a society
Minority
- Groups whose members have significantly less control or power than members of the
dominant or majority group. This is a term used more in the U.S.
Minority Groups
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Race refers to a genetically isolated group with distinctive gene frequencies. Migration, exploration and invasion have led to the mixing of genetic material from people around the world. Racialization: process whereby people define a group as a race based on physical characteristics and in part on historical, cultural, and economic factors. One drop rule- if a person had even a single drop of black blood they are considered black. Historical roots of race starts in pre-colonial era- used to differentiate ethnicity irish race, english race etc. A group that is set apart and treated differently from others because of perceived physical differences. Group that is set apart from others primarily because of its national origin or distinctive cultural patterns. Any group that makes less than half of some larger population. Subordinate group whose members have significantly less control or power over their own lives than the members of a dominant or majority group have over their own.
