Ch. 8 Race and Ethnicity

prejudice

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

assimilation

pattern of relations between ethnic or racial groups in which the minority group is absorbed into the mainstream or dominant group, making society more homogeneous

genocide

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

population transfer

the forcible removal of a group of people from the territory they have occupied

racial assimilation

the process by which racial minority groups are absorbed into the dominant group through intermarriage

discrimination

unequal treatment of individuals based on their membership in a social group; usually motivated by prejudice

double-consciousness

W.E.B. Dubois's term for the divided identity experienced by blacks in America

situational ethnicity

an ethnic identity that can be either displayed or concealed depending on its usefulness in a given situation

symbolic ethnicity

an ethnic identity that is only relevant on specific occasions and does not significantly impact everyday life

pluralism

cultural pattern of intergroup relations that encourages racial and ethnic variation and acceptance within a society

individual discrimination

discrimination carried out by one person against another

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

internal colonialism

economic and political subjugation of the minority group by the dominant group within a nation

segregation

physical and legal separation of groups by race or ethnicity

passing

presenting yourself as a member of a different racial or ethnic group than the one you were born into

cultural assimilation

process by which racial or ethnic groups are absorbed into the dominant group by adopting the dominant group's culture

symbolic interactionism approach to race and ethnicity

race and ethnicity are part of our identity as displayed through our presentation of self

structural functionalism approach to race and ethnicity

racial and ethnic differences are a necessary part of society. Even racial inequality has functions that help maintain social order

conflict theory approach to race and ethnicity

racial and ethnic differences create intergroup conflict---minority and majority groups have different interests and may find themselves at odds as they attempt to secure and protect their interests

miscegenation

romantic, sexual, or marital relationships between people of different races

racism

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

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

ethnicity

socially defined category based on common language, religion, nationality, history, or another cultural factor

race

socially defined category based on real or perceived biological differences between groups and people

embodied identity

those elements of identity that are generated through others' perceptions of our physical traits