Chapter 9, Section 1

1
Chapter 9, Section 1

• Minority, Race, and Ethnicity

2
Minorities

• For sociologists, a minority is not just defined
  by a size or number
• A minority is a group with physical or cultural
  traits that are different from those of the
  dominant group

3
Minorities

• A minority has several key features
• A minority has distinctive physical or cultural
  characteristics which can be used to separate it
  from the majority
• Physical characteristics skin color, facial
  features, etc.
• Cultural characteristics religion, accent,
  language, etc.

4
Minorities

• The minority is dominated by the majority
• The majority holds an unequal share of the
  desired goods, services, and privileges
• Minority traits are often believed by the
  dominant majority to be inferior
• Can be used to justify unequal treatment
• Members of the minority have a common sense of
  identity with strong group loyalty
• The majority determines who belongs to the
  minority through ascribed status

5
Defining Race

• Members of a race share certain biologically
  inherited physical characteristics that are
  considered equally important within a society
• Biologists use skin color, hair color, hair
  texture, facial features, etc. to determine race
• There is no such thing as a pure race
• For sociologists, social attitudes and
  characteristics that relate to race are more
  important than physical differences

6
Ethnicity

• An ethnic minority is socially identified by
  unique characteristics related to culture or
  nationality
• Ethnic minority is a subculture defined by its
  own language, religion, values, beliefs, norms,
  and customs
• It is part of the larger culture but are still
  separate

7
Ethnicity

• Negative attitudes exist towards ethnic
  minorities because of ethnocentrism
• Ethnocentrism involves judging others in terms of
  your own cultural standards
• People in the majority may consider other views
  to be inferior

8
Chapter 9, Section 2

• Racial and Ethnic Relations

9
Patterns of Assimilation

• Minority groups are either accepted or rejected
• If they are accepted it leads to assimilation
• If they are rejected it leads to conflict
• Assimilation refers to the blending or fusing of
  minority groups into the dominant society
• A minority is given full participation in all
  aspects of the society

10
Patterns of Assimilation

• Anglo-conformity has been the most common pattern
  of assimilation in America
• Traditional American institutions are maintained
• Immigrants are accepted as long as they conform
  to the accepted standards of the society

11
Patterns of Assimilation

• The melting pot is a second pattern of
  assimilation
• All ethnic and racial minorities voluntarily
  blend together
• Many sociologists use the idea of a tossed
  salad instead of a melting pot traditions and
  cultures exist side by side rather than fusing
  together
• Cultural pluralism immigrants maintain part of
  their old ways
• Accommodation is an extreme form of cultural
  pluralism when a minority maintains its own
  culturally unique way of life

12
Patterns of Conflict

• The most extreme form of conflict takes the form
  of genocide the systematic effort to destroy an
  entire population
• Best known example Holocaust
• Population transfer occurs when a minority is
  forced to move to a remote location or to leave
  entirely the territory controlled by the majority

13
Patterns of Conflict

• Subjugation is the most common pattern of
  conflict
• Minority is denied equal access to the culture
  and lifestyle of the larger society
• May arise in the everyday practices of people
• De facto segregation describes a situation that
  exists regardless of the law ex. When
  neighboring homeowners agree among themselves not
  to sell to certain ethnic groups or races

14
Assignment

• Section 1 Assessment (p. 279) 1-2
• Section 2 Assessment (p.282) 1-2
• Finish Chapter 9 Vocabulary