SOC210H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Tutsi, Hutu, Social Inequality
Document Summary
Last lecture - ethnicity & race are relational concepts, social concepts. They represent lived experiences of individuals & groups, are important dimensions of social inequality. Constructionist approach: the ways ethnic & racial identities are built, rebuilt, dismantled, placing interactions bw circumstances. Accepts fundamental validity of circumstantialism: ethnic/ racial groups the product of social/ historical situations to heighten/ reduce salience/ utility of identities: presumed ethnic/ race identities assigned, held hostage. While retaining primordialism: humans naturally attached to life giving forces of fam & territory, see ethnicity as given/vital social bond. Vary significantly in their degree of organizing social life, collective action. South africa pre 1990s - thick bc everyone categorized to determine their power, opportunities, marriage, etc. Assignment & assertion - interactive construction of identities. Labels forced onto ppl, but also accepted, resisted, choosen, etc. People guided by their own preconceptions in response to circumstances.
