Ethnocentrism/Racism

Why stereotype?

Because people tend to perceive and understand things in categories to study and understand them.

Unprejudiced discriminator

Can be discriminatory without being biased--it's not always negative

Institutional Racism in Education/Macro

Children given discriminatory account of American History. Whites often seen as "pioneers" but really were oppressive. Missionaries seen as saviors but really forcing religion on others bc it's "superior"

Race

Common set of physical characteristics. Compare ethnocentrism: not about biology, more cultural.

Prejudiced non-discriminator

Dormant discrimination. Feels hostility towards groups but does not act on it.

Examples of White Privilege

Shopping, Driving, Housing, History, better experiences when shopping, Hair products, police confidence, access to medical care

De Jure Discrimination

Legal discrimination--like Jim Crow laws. Hiding behind laws. "It's the law, what can I do?" But consider-laws are made by people. None in US.

Prejudiced discriminator

Lots of Bias--acts on it. Does not believe in freedom and equality. Open action against others.

Merton

4 Types of Prejudiced People

Why stereotypes are bad

Usually unfavorable re: race/ethnicity, never describes all individuals in a group, and believing in positive stereotypes means likely to believe in the negative ones too

Unprejudiced non-discriminator

No bias, does not discriminate

Hate Crimes

Added to penal codes in all states, violent acts aimed at particular race, ethnicity, religion, gender, etc. Enhanced Sentencing if proven biased motive. (All states but Wyoming)

Institutional Racism in Justice System

African Americans 12% of general pop but 50% in prison system. Harsher punishments and longer stays.

Prejudice

An opinion about an individual, group, etc that is developed without proof or systemic evidence. Could be favorable but usually not. Can become institutionalized into laws/customs.

Ethnocentrism

An orientation or set of beliefs that holds one's own culture, ethnic or racial group, or nation--that is superior to others.

Ethnocentrism: Leads to 4/4

Atrocities like annihilation of Native Americans, Jews, disabled, gays, gypsies, etc

De Facto Discrimination

Discrimination that actually exists whether legal or not--harder to oppose bc no law in place. Informal Discrimination. Serving Whites before Blacks.

Institutional Racism

Discriminatory acts and policies against a race that pervades the major macro system of society, like legal, political, economic, education. Happens within a system, like club. Think systems theories.

Ethnic Group

Distinct group of people: share a common language, set of customs, history, culture, race, religion, or origin (language not always shared)

Ethnocentrism: Leads to 1/4

Feeling that one's culture is superior and should be adopted by others

Minority Definition (Barker)

Group/Ind of a distinct racial, religious, ethnic, or political identity that is smaller or less powerful than the community's controlling group. Not about size, it's about power.

Discrimination in Groups

IS TREATMENT: Prejudging and negative treatment of people based on identifiable characteristics like race, gender, religion, ethnicity. Denial of access to opportunities, housing,politics, community, etc

Ethnocentrism: Leads to 3/4

Justification that a group in a country has God given rights to dominate other groups

Minority Problems (Myrdal)

Minority problems are really majority problems. Probs in either group affects all groups.

Individual Racism

Negative attitudes one person has about all members of a racial/ethnic group; results in name calling, social exclusion, or violence. But not "1 person" is at the person level-can be a group of people not associated with a macro-entity,

Organizational vs Community Macro System

Organizational: police station not patrolling as much in certain neighborhoods; Serving one race before the other. Community: higher mortality rates for nonwhites, less education for nonwhites

Prejudice: how

People apply racial stereotypes to all members of a group including what they are like and how they behave

Prejudice premise

People of different races who have different skin colors or physical features also have innate differences in behaviors, values, intellect, and attitudes

Racists believe

People who believes their race is superior. Consider Whites in South Africa/Aparthied

Stereotypes Definition

Preconceived and fixed ideas about individuals, groups, social status. Usually based on superficial characteristics or over-generalizations of traits observed in people

Ethnocentrism: Leads to 2/4

Prejudice against others who are viewed as inferior, barbarians, uncultured, etc

Discrimination Definition

Process of distinguishing between 2 objects, ideas, situations or stimuli. Can be positive.

Race, a Social Concept

Races are not isolated and genes have been intermingled. No race is pure. All races alike in problem-solving, altruistic tendencies, and communication. Claims of superiority likely had superior environmental opportunities which influences intelligence. Social science used categories (races) to make things easier.

Oppression

Social act of placing severe restrictions on a group or institution. Having more power is just fact--eg bosses and employees can be oppressive situation. Exercise of authority.

Racism

Stereotyping and generalizing about people--usually negative b/c of race; common basis of discrimination against members of racial minority groups.