SOC210H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Ideal Type, Radon, Essentialism
Document Summary
Goal of chapter (p61: results of ethnic meetings/ encounters as "assimilation" (sociologists) & "acculturation" (anthropologists, similar meaning, but need systematic analysis of concept to break down it"s categorizable factors bw them. Racial groups come into contact & interact - contact --> competition for resources --> accommodation or conflict --> assimilation (robert park) Assumes assimilation inevitable in democratic industrial society. Assimilation: process of interpenetration & fusion of groups/ persons, & by sharing experience/ history are incorporated into common cultural life. Gordon disagrees with park & burgess, assimilation not the ultimate end. Gordon"s basic perspective: assumes american society consists of single communities with clear ethnic base, specific inequality (protestant americans an ethnic group, but regards itself as mainstream. American society & others as special: aware of prejudices & discrimination in this context. Idea of socialization in primary (family) & secondary (ethnic community) groups: differentiates identities bw origin (chinese, german, etc.
