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Race and Ethnic Relations

• Race refers to the physical characteristics that identify a group of people. Sociologically speaking, race is socially constructed

Race and Ethnic Relations

• An ethnic group is a people who share a common historical and cultural heritage and sense of group identity and belongingness. Groups that share distinctive cultural traits such as Italian Americans, are a few examples

Race and Ethnic Relations

• Minority groups A minority group as a set of people, who because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination.

Race and Ethnic Relations

• Racism -The view that certain racial or ethnic groups are biologically inferior and that domination and exploitation are justified..

Race and Ethnic Relations

• Stereotypes - People often express the opinion that specific traits of members of certain groups are responsible for their disadvantaged situation. Thus in South Africa, it is common for whites to assert that blacks are "not ready for full citizenship because they remain childlike and simple."

Race and Ethnic Relations

• Prejudice - is a negative attitude toward certain people based solely on their membership in a particular group. Individuals are "prejudged" on the basis of whatever undesirable characteristics the whole group is assumed to have

Race and Ethnic Relations

• Discrimination -refers to behavior, particularly unequal treatment of people because they are members of a particular group. The kind we are most concerned with is the denial of equal access to resources, privileges or opportunities.

Race and Ethnic Relations

• Merton’s TypologyUnprejudiced NondiscriminatorPrejudiced DiscriminatorPrejudiced NondiscriminatorUnprejudiced Discriminator

Race and Ethnic Relations

• Merton’s Typology is valuable but fails to account for: Institutional DiscriminationIQ Testing

Race and Ethnic Relations

• Richard LaPiere’s Classic Study of PrejudiceRacism Today: Symbolic Racism

Affirmative Action

• Affirmative Action--the DebateMost people agree with the sentiment behind it. The problems emerge when the plan is implemented.

Affirmative Action

• Proponents: Backward Looking Argument: Argument from Compensatory Justice AKA The Shackled Runner Argument

• Forward Looking Argument: Argument from Social Justice

Affirmative Action

• Critics of Affirmative ActionReverse Discrimination--AA breeds resentment not harmonyWho Really Benefits?What About Working Class or Poor White Males?The idea Violates the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Affirmative Action

• Christopher Jencks and Affirmative Action:

Beneficiaries of AA may have problems of self-esteem and credibility

Keep AA because it is the only way we can elicit cooperation from people, but change it.

Affirmative Action

• Is it really about Merit at all?