SOC101Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Social Constructionism, De Jure, Ethnic Stereotype
Page 232-262 book 1
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Categorizing individuals and population groups on biological
characteristics is neither accurate nor based on valid distinctions
between genetic differences in 'races'
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Race is a socially constructed reality: races do not actually exist,
but people are defined by race because the idea remains that
different cultures = different races
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Race affects prejudice and discrimination
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Social significance makes more difference than race
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A race is a category of people who have been singled out as
inferior / superior on the bases of characteristics
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Race refers to physical, ethnic refers to cultural
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Unique cultural traits: language, clothing, religion, holidays
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Sense of community
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Feeling of ethnocentrism
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Ascribed membership from birth
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Territoriality / tendency to occupy distinct geographical
areas
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Ethnic share:
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Participate in social interaction with groups, feel a sense of
common identity and belonging
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How people act in regards to race and ethnicity
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Opportunities people have
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How they are treated
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How long they live
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Ethnicity is the basis of hierarchical ranking in society
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Social Significance of Race and Ethnicity
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Majority: advantages, has superior resources and rights
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Minority: because of physical or cultural characteristics are
disadvantaged and subjected to unequal treatment by the
dominant group, regard selves as objects of discrimination
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Visible minority: official government category of non-white
individuals
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India
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'minority' not necessarily a small number of people
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Majority and Minority Groups
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Race and Ethnicity
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May be biased against them before they even meet
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Negative attitudes based on reconceived notions about members
of selected groups
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Racial prejudice involves beliefs that certain racial groups are
innately inferior to others
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Ethnocentrism is maintained and perpetuated by
stereotypes: overgeneralization about the appearance,
behaviour, or other characteristics of members of groups
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Media are a major source of racial and ethnic stereotypes
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Another source is ethnic jokes that are derogatory
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Stereotypes
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Prejudice
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Reading 1.9: Ethnic Relations and Race
November 15, 2016
9:28 PM
READINGS Page 116
Another source is ethnic jokes that are derogatory
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Object because scapegoat : person / group that is
incapable of offering resistance to hostility / aggression
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Is used as substitutes for actual sources of frustration
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Frustration - aggression hypothesis states people who are
frustrated in efforts to achieve a highly desired goal will
respond with a pattern of aggression towards others
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Symbolic interactionists: prejudice results from social learning
learned from observing and imitating others
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Highly prejudiced individuals tend to have authoritarian
personality: excessive conformity, submissiveness,
intolerance
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Theories of Prejudice
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Differential treatment of minority groups on basis of
character
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De jure: legal discrimination, laws
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De facto: informal discrimination - social customs and
institutions
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Prejudice is an attitude, discrimination are practices of
dominant group members that have a harmful impact on
members of a subordinate group
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Unprejudiced discriminators are individuals who believe in
equality for all - no personal prejudice, but engage in
discriminate behaviour because peer group pressure,
economic, political, social interests
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Prejudicial discrimination: act on discrimination
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Discrimination
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A set of ideas that implies the superiority of one social group
over another on the basis of biological / cultural characters,
putting these beliefs into practice
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Involves elements of prejudice, ethnocentrism, stereotyping,
discrimination
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Overt racism: deliberate and highly personal attacks,
including derogatory slurs, name-calling to "inferior" groups
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Polite racism: attempt to disguise dislike of others through
behaviour that is outwardly non-prejudicial
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Ambiguity concerning racism
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Subliminal: subconscious, occurs when there is a conflict of
values, not directly expressed, but demonstrated in
opposition to progressive minority parties
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Can have unintended consequence of exclusion
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Institutionalized: establish rules, policies, practices produce
differential treatment of groups based on race
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Racism
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Contact hypothesis: contact between people from divergent
groups should lead to favourable attitudes and behaviour
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'equal status'
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Pursue same goals
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Cooperate to reach goals
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Receive positive feedback
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Members of groups must have
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Will ignore anything that contradicts stereotypes
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Intergroup contact may either intensify or reduce racial and
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Symbolic interactionist
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Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnic Relations
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READINGS Page 117
Document Summary
Categorizing individuals and population groups on biological characteristics is neither accurate nor based on valid distinctions between genetic differences in "races" Race is a socially constructed reality: races do not actually exist, but people are defined by race because the idea remains that different cultures = different races. A race is a category of people who have been singled out as inferior / superior on the bases of characteristics. Race refers to physical, ethnic refers to cultural. Territoriality / tendency to occupy distinct geographical areas. Participate in social interaction with groups, feel a sense of common identity and belonging. How people act in regards to race and ethnicity. Ethnicity is the basis of hierarchical ranking in society. Minority: because of physical or cultural characteristics are disadvantaged and subjected to unequal treatment by the dominant group, regard selves as objects of discrimination. Visible minority: official government category of non-white individuals. "minority" not necessarily a small number of people.
