Sociology Chapter 8

Pluralism

A cultural pattern of intergroup relations that encourages racial and ethnic variation and acceptance within a society. Not only permits racial and ethnic variation within one society, it actually encourages people to embrace diversity as a positive feature of a society. "Salad bowl" society.

Assimilation

A pattern of relations between ethnic or racial groups in which the minority group is absorbed into the mainstream or dominant group, making society more homogenous. The Irish, Italians, and Eastern Europeans were all once considered "ethnics" but were eventually assimilated into the larger category of white Americans.

Racism

A set of beliefs about the claimed superiority of one racial or ethnic group; used to justify inequality and often rooted in the assumption that differences among groups are genetic.

Ethnicity

A socially defined category based on a common language, religion, nationality, history, or some other cultural factor. Ex: The Amish

Race

A socially defined category based on real or perceived biological differences between groups of people.

Situational Ethnicity

An ethnic identity can be either displayed or concealed depending on its usefulness in a given situation. We deliberately assert our ethnicity in some situations while downplaying it in others.

Symbolic Ethnicity

An ethnic identity that is only relevant on specific occasions and does not significantly affect everyday life. Ex: on St. Patrick's Day, displays of Irish identity can be pretty overwhelming! Parades, hats, "Kiss me, I'm Irish," green clothing, green beer, etc. Also, occurs on Passover, Cinco de Mayo, and Nouruz.

Prejudice

An idea about the characteristics of a group that is applied to all members of that group and is unlikely to change regardless of the evidence against it. Examples: "All Irish are drunks," or "All Mexicans are lazy!"

Race Consciousness

An ideology that acknowledges race as a powerful social construct that shapes our individual and social experiences. In other words, an awareness of the importance of race in our everyday lives and in our dealings with social institutions.

Color-Blind Racism

An ideology that removes race as an explanation for any form of unequal treatment.

Individual Discrimination

Discrimination carried out by one person against another. When one person treats others unfairly because of their race or ethnicity. A racist teacher might discriminate against a Hispanic student by assigning him a lower grade than he deserves.

Institutional Discrimination

Discrimination carried out systematically by institutions (political, economic, educational, and others) that affect all members of a group who come into contact with it. (such as governments, schools, or banks).

Passing

Presenting yourself as a member of a different group than the stigmatized group you belong to. Ex: light skinned African Americans attempted to live as whites in order to avoid the dire consequences of being black in a racist society.

Minority Group

Social group that is systematically denied the same access to power and resources available to society's dominant groups though they are not necessarily fewer in number than the dominant groups.

Cultural Appropriation

The adoption of cultural elements belonging to an oppressed group by members of the dominant group, without permission and often for the dominant group's gain. Can include: arty, music, dance, dress, language, religious rituals, and other forms of expression that originate in a particular group. Borrowing cultural elements!

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic extermination of a racial, ethnic, national, or cultural group.

Internal Colonialism

The economic and political subjugation of the minority group by the dominant group within a nation. Describes the exploitation of a minority group within the dominant group's own borders.

Population Transfer

The forcible removal of a group of people from the territory they have occupied. Ex: Native Americans were forced onto reservations away from their homes.

Segregation

The physical and legal separation of groups by race or ethnicity. Ex: Blacks had to live separately from whites/could only use "coloreds" things, etc.

Racial Assimilation

The process by which racial minority groups are absorbed into the dominant group through intermarriage. So, having children with the dominant group until the different races are completely mixed.

Cultural Assimilation

The process by which racial or ethnic groups are absorbed into the dominant group by adopting the dominant group's culture. So, members learn the cultural practices of the dominant group.

Embodied Identity

Those elements of identity that are generated through others' perceptions of our physical traits. Aka, the way we are perceived in the physical world.

Privilege

Unearned advantage according to members of dominant social groups (males, whites, heterosexuals, the physically able, etc).

Discrimination

Unequal treatment of individuals based on their membership in a social group; usually motivated by prejudice. A person might be said to suffer from this if she is turned down for a job promotion or a home loan b/c she is black or Hispanic.

Double-Consciousness

W.E.B. DuBois's term for the divided identity experienced by lacks in the U.S. he asked whether one could be black and at the same time claim one's rights as an American.