questions on a film

chapter_12.ppt

Stratification, Minorities, and Discrimination

Chapter 12

Race and Ethnicity

One type of classification divides most people into three groups based on physical characteristics.
Negroids, Mongoloids, and Caucasoids
“Race” refers to social constructions that are loosely based on biological differences.
Biological differences between “races” are often smaller than within the “races” themselves.
Social construction? Hair color! Doesn’t distinguish race because our social system differentiates that. (A predisposed system of judgment is based solely on skin color)

Race and Ethnicity

Over time migration has led to a mixing of the races, and ranges of graduation within races can be found.
An Ethnic Group on the other hand:
Is a group of people who identify with each other on the basis of common ancestry and cultural heritage.

Differences exist in regards to language, nationality, and religion.

The frequently made assumption that race determines culture has little scientific or factual basis.

Racial and Ethnic
Prejudice and Discrimination

The book gives various reasons for “racial” prejudice:
Influence of Tradition
Model our personal experiences from how we are socialized
Psychological need of individuals to belong to a particular, identifiable group.
Competition between the groups, aggression, envy = I.D
Building up the ego by cultivating a feeling of superiority.
“Rightful owner, deserving, secure, empowered, and in control”
Usefulness of prejudice as an economic and political weapon.
Stereotypes, profiling, scapegoat, Definition

“Minorities”

As Social Scientists we must be very careful on how we choose our language. For example saying “illegal immigrant” gives the impression of criminal behavior rather than economic pressure, hence “undocumented immigrants”. By saying “minority” instead of “ethnic minority” we are labeling one group as subordinate to the others.
This can have serious consequences in our research and future funding.

Other Kinds of Minorities

Religious Minorities: Amish, Jewish, Jehovah’s Witness.
Although individuals from the Jewish religion are a minority their impact on American Society has been monumental.
Sexual Minorities: This may include women, homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, and Transgendered individuals.
Age Minorities: This predominantly refers to the elderly and the obstacles they face when looking for a job.

Public Segregation Part One

1896, Plessy vs. Ferguson establishes the legal use of the “separate but equal” doctrine.
1954, Brown vs. The Board of Education: turned over the “separate but equal” decision in the supreme court outlawing segregation in public schools.
De jure segregation: is based on actual segregation laws.
Separate but equal, separate everything!
De facto segregation: is based on cultural and social characteristics.
Expensive private memberships
Symphony, Opera, Country Club, Yacht Club, etc..

Public Segregation Part Two

This initial segregation created a margin between certain ethnic groups.
Education
skills and job placement
Employment
Income and access to health care system
Housing
Isolation: train tracks, main roads, rivers, etc.
If you look on page 235 Table 12.1b. What patterns and/or relationships can you identify?

Film Questions

1. Why does birth weight disparity remain the same for African-Americans even after you correct for educational attainment?
2. Briefly explain what happens to African immigrants after one generation and why? Identify two theories that could be relevant to this shift.
3. How was racism measured in the film?
4. What type of environmental and/or social influences cause preterm births?

Lets turn our attention to Gender

Take a look at page 248 table 12.2
In which occupation are male and female weekly earning the closest?
Which occupation has the largest margin between males and females?
The book mentions the fact that families are becoming smaller and wants have become larger. What does this tell us about families in an industrial society?

One Woman’s Struggle
(Not to be written down)

Please read the article on page 249 entitled “One Woman’s Struggle”.
Why do you think it has been so challenging for women to gain positions of power?
What forces are limiting the power of women.
By power I am referring to the power to define oneself.
Do women support these limiting forces or are they only imposed by men?

Extreme Critical Thinking Exercise

Let us embark on an extremely critical thinking exercise: From the pages of 238 to 243, there are a variety of small paragraphs about different ethnic groups.
Choose between the headings listed below and read the paragraphs for each section.
Native Americans 231; 297
Black Americans 238; 304
Chicanos 239; 305
Latinos 241; 307
Chinese 241; 307
Japanese 242;308
Other Asian Immigrants 242;308
Arab Americans and Americans of middle eastern descent 243; 309

Extreme Critical Thinking Exercise

After Reading the article ask yourself from what point of view is the author addressing the group. What type of words is he using to describe the role or relationship of these ethnic groups to American Society?
Should there be a section on White Americans? Why do you think there is not? What does this say about American culture being an “invisible culture”?