Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity

What is Race?What is Race?

• The inherited physical The inherited physical characteristics that characteristics that distinguish one group distinguish one group from another.from another.

•This is a reality, This is a reality, humans are differenthumans are different

• Sociologists, think of race more as a social construct, determined by cultural factors rather than skin color.

What are ethnic groups?What are ethnic groups?

• People who identify People who identify with one another on with one another on the basis of common the basis of common ancestry and cultural ancestry and cultural heritageheritage. . – Having distinctive Having distinctive

cultural cultural characteristicscharacteristics• LanguageLanguage• BeliefsBeliefs• ValuesValues• TraditionsTraditions• ReligionReligion

• Ethnic group of Ethnic group of ThailandThailand

Race: Reality and MythRace: Reality and Myth

• RealityReality: Humans have physical distinctions: Humans have physical distinctions• MythMyth: fabrications of the human mind.: fabrications of the human mind.

1. Idea that any race is superior to 1. Idea that any race is superior to another. another.

– Hitler, Rwanda Genocide, and Hitler, Rwanda Genocide, and ImperialistsImperialists

2. Idea that any race is “Pure”2. Idea that any race is “Pure”• Social RealitySocial Reality: People act on beliefs, not facts : People act on beliefs, not facts

(act on stereotypes)(act on stereotypes)

History History of Race in of Race in America America Firm Firm “color line’ existed“color line’ existed between racial-ethnic groups between racial-ethnic groups

(marriage and dating)(marriage and dating)

The U.S. census classified people by their raceThe U.S. census classified people by their race Restrictive: Caucasian, Negro, Indian, and OrientalRestrictive: Caucasian, Negro, Indian, and Oriental• Clip 3: Clip 3: Race an "idea constructed by society to further certain

political economic goals,"• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UZS8Wb4S5k&feature=re

lated

2000 census was changed to include several races:2000 census was changed to include several races:(multiracial)(multiracial) (7 million Americans classified as multiracial 9 million (7 million Americans classified as multiracial 9 million

2012)2012)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLnO1--sRow

2010 Census2010 Census

• http://2010.census.gov/2010census/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/interactive-form.phpabout/interactive-form.php

• http://2010.census.gov/2010census/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/data/

• http://http://www.thesociologicalcinema.com/1/www.thesociologicalcinema.com/1/post/2012/03/being-garifuna-how-do-post/2012/03/being-garifuna-how-do-we-measure-race.htmlwe-measure-race.html

US CensusUS Census• ““Definition of Race Definition of Race

Categories Used in the 2010 Categories Used in the 2010 Census.” Starting in 1997, Census.” Starting in 1997, OMB required federal OMB required federal agencies to use a minimum of agencies to use a minimum of five race categories: White, five race categories: White, Black or African American, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. For respondents Islander. For respondents unable to identify with any of unable to identify with any of these five race categories, these five race categories, OMB approved the Census OMB approved the Census Bureau’s inclusion of a sixth Bureau’s inclusion of a sixth category—Some Other Racecategory—Some Other Race—on the Census 2000 and —on the Census 2000 and 2010 Census questionnaires. 2010 Census questionnaires.

• ““Definition of Hispanic or Definition of Hispanic or Latino Origin Used in the Latino Origin Used in the 2010 Census.” OMB 2010 Census.” OMB requires federal agencies to requires federal agencies to use a minimum of two use a minimum of two ethnicities: Hispanic or ethnicities: Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino. Hispanic origin can Latino. Hispanic origin can be viewed as the heritage, be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the or country of birth of the person or the person’s person or the person’s parents or ancestors before parents or ancestors before their arrival in the United their arrival in the United States. People who identify States. People who identify their origin as Hispanic, their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be Latino, or Spanish may be any race.any race.

Discussion Questions: Discussion Questions: EveryotherEveryother

• How do the women in the film feel in regards to the How do the women in the film feel in regards to the census? census?

• After viewing the 2010 census how do you feel? After viewing the 2010 census how do you feel? • Do you believe, you can be more than one race?Do you believe, you can be more than one race?• Should the way you personally identify yourself be a Should the way you personally identify yourself be a

political issue?political issue?• How is the meaning of race changing in the U.S?How is the meaning of race changing in the U.S?• Do you have the same racial attitudes as their Do you have the same racial attitudes as their

parents/grandparents?parents/grandparents?• How do you imagine your own kids might view the How do you imagine your own kids might view the

concept of race?concept of race?• Do you see any trends developing in racial attitudes?Do you see any trends developing in racial attitudes?

Minority and Dominant Minority and Dominant GroupsGroups

• Minority Groups: people who are singled Minority Groups: people who are singled out for unequal treatment and who regard out for unequal treatment and who regard themselves as objects of collective themselves as objects of collective discriminationdiscrimination..– Minority Group Can Be Racial or EthnicMinority Group Can Be Racial or Ethnic– Not necessarily the numerical minorityNot necessarily the numerical minority

• Dominant GroupsDominant Groups: : those who do the those who do the discriminating….for they have the greater discriminating….for they have the greater power, privileges, and social class. power, privileges, and social class.

Shared CharacteristicsShared Characteristics of of MinoritiesMinorities

• MembershipMembership into minority group at into minority group at birthbirth

• The physical and cultural traits are The physical and cultural traits are looked down on by dominant grouplooked down on by dominant group

• Treated unequally by dominant groupTreated unequally by dominant group• Tend to marry within their own groupTend to marry within their own group• Have strong group solidarityHave strong group solidarity

Racial–Ethnic IdentityRacial–Ethnic Identity

• Some Some people are people are more more aware of their race or aware of their race or ethnicity.ethnicity.

• Some Americans are not Some Americans are not aware of their ethnicity aware of their ethnicity because of assimilation because of assimilation into mainstream Americainto mainstream America– Some may say “I am Heinz Some may say “I am Heinz

57 – German and Irish, with 57 – German and Irish, with a little Italian and French a little Italian and French thrown in…and I think thrown in…and I think someone once said that I was someone once said that I was 1/16 Amerian Indian, too.”1/16 Amerian Indian, too.”

Awareness of EthnicityAwareness of Ethnicity• Why do some people feel an intense sense of Why do some people feel an intense sense of

ethnic identity, while others feel hardly any?ethnic identity, while others feel hardly any?

• Low Sense of ethnicityLow Sense of ethnicity– Those who are part of dominant group in America are Those who are part of dominant group in America are

less aware of ethnicity less aware of ethnicity – Tend to be the group with the greatest powerTend to be the group with the greatest power– Are not subject to discriminationAre not subject to discrimination– Have a sense of “belonging”Have a sense of “belonging”

• Heightened SenseHeightened Sense– Minorities are very aware of their ethnicityMinorities are very aware of their ethnicity– Have less powerHave less power– Different from the national identityDifferent from the national identity– Discriminated againstDiscriminated against– Have a sense of not belongingHave a sense of not belonging

Figure 12.1 A Sense of EthnicitySource: By the author. Based on Doane 1997.Source: By the author. Based on Doane 1997.

Melting Pot Idea vs. Tossed Melting Pot Idea vs. Tossed Salad Salad

• Assimilation: blending or fusing of Assimilation: blending or fusing of minority groups into the dominant minority groups into the dominant society. society. – Members given full participation Members given full participation

into society.into society.– Either you conform or are Either you conform or are

suppressed. suppressed. • Melting Pot the view that Americans Melting Pot the view that Americans

of various backgrounds would blend of various backgrounds would blend into a sort of ethnic stew. into a sort of ethnic stew.

• Tossed Salad the view visualizes Tossed Salad the view visualizes American culture as being a bowl full American culture as being a bowl full of lots of different kinds of things, of lots of different kinds of things, each contributing its own flavor and each contributing its own flavor and identity to the whole.identity to the whole.– cultures and traditions exist side by sidecultures and traditions exist side by side