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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Chapter 3
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
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Sociological Definition of a Racial Group
Group defined as inferior or superior
Based on subjective physical characteristics (e.g., skin color, hair texture, eye shape)
African American, Native American, Asian American Figure 3.3: Percent of the U.S. Population by
Race and Hispanic Origin: 2003, 2025, and 2050 (middle-series projections)
Source: U.S. Census Burrau, 2004a, 2004c.
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Figure 3.2: Race and Hispanic Origin
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004a.
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Dominant and Subordinate Groups
Dominant or majority group
Is advantaged Has superior rights and
resources Is based on race or
ethnicity Is also based on gender,
sexual orientation, physical ability
Subordinate or minority group
Is disadvantaged Is subject to unequal
treatment Is based on physical or
cultural characteristics See themselves as
objects of discrimination
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Figure 3.1:
Median U.S. Family Income, by Type of Family and Race of Householder, 2003
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004b.
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Racism
Set of attitudes, beliefs, or practices
Justifies the superior or inferior treatment of racial and ethnic groups White racism denies rights and privileges to
people of color
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Prejudice Negative attitudes about people
Based on racial or ethnic characteristics
Rooted in ethnocentrism
Results in stereotypes
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Discrimination
Practices of dominant group that harm subordinate groups:
Individual discrimination is one-on-one acts. Taxi driver who refuses to pick up African
American passengers
Institutional discrimination is day-to-day practices of organizations and institutions.
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Social-Psychological Explanations
Frustration-aggression hypothesisFrustration in achieving goal leads to
aggression towards others Scapegoats
Blaming others (illegal aliens) for someone else’s failure
Authoritarian personality Type of personality where one is intolerant,
insecure, rigid, submissive to authority and thinks primarily in stereotypes
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Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives
Racial socialization Is learned from parents, caregivers, and
media representations
Contains specifics concerningPersonal and group identity Intergroup and individual relationshipsOne’s position in social stratification
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Functionalist Perspectives Racial/ethnic discord and urban unrest are
dysfunctional for society Processes for addressing racial problems
include: Assimilation: absorbed into dominant culture Amalgamation: groups “melt” together to form new
society Ethnic pluralism: coexistence of diverse groups with
separate identities Segregation: separation of groups
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Conflict Perspectives Role of capitalist class in racial exploitation
Split-labor market theory Primary and Secondary sector
Racial inequality and gender oppression Capitalist exploitation of minority women
Internal colonialism Minorities forcibly placed under economic and political
control remain in subordinate positions much longer than other groups
Theory of racial formation Government’s legislation and laws impact minorities
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Inequality Among Racial & Ethnic Groups Native Americans
15 million lived in US 1492White Europeans engaged in genocide
Deliberate killing of people
Indian Removal Act of 1830 Forced to move to accommodate white settlers
“Trail of Tears”
Children were forced to Americanize
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African Americans and Inequality
Contemporary stereotypical media images “Welfare mother” and “menacing black male
criminals”
Forced into slavery to enrich US economics After slavery
De jure segregation: laws that enforced separation Jim Crow Laws
De facto segregation: separation by norms Still exists today
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Hispanic Americans and Inequality
Contemporary stereotypical media images “Drug lords” and “illegal aliens”
Internal colonization Mexican-American War
Anglo-Americans took possession of their land
Exclusionary immigration Allowed to migrate when the US needed agricultural
workers Detained or deported during economic depression
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Asian and Pacific Americans and Inequality Contemporary stereotypical media images
“Exotic beauties” or “model minority”
Exclusionary immigration Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Chinese laborers seen as a threat to Americans Act halted Chinese immigration to US
Internment camps Japanese Americans forced into camps during WWII
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Common Experiences of Subordinate Groups Been the object of stereotyping and
discrimination
Resisted oppression and strived for a better life
Been the object of governmental policies to shape its place (or lack thereof)