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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Chapter 3

Racial and Ethnic Inequality

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Sociological Definition of a Racial Group

Group defined as inferior or superior

Based on subjective physical characteristics (e.g., skin color, hair texture, eye shape)

African American, Native American, Asian American Figure 3.3: Percent of the U.S. Population by

Race and Hispanic Origin: 2003, 2025, and 2050 (middle-series projections)

Source: U.S. Census Burrau, 2004a, 2004c.


Figure 3.2: Race and Hispanic Origin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004a.


Dominant and Subordinate Groups

Dominant or majority group

Is advantaged Has superior rights and

resources Is based on race or

ethnicity Is also based on gender,

sexual orientation, physical ability

Subordinate or minority group

Is disadvantaged Is subject to unequal

treatment Is based on physical or

cultural characteristics See themselves as

objects of discrimination


Figure 3.1:

Median U.S. Family Income, by Type of Family and Race of Householder, 2003

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004b.


Racism

Set of attitudes, beliefs, or practices

Justifies the superior or inferior treatment of racial and ethnic groups White racism denies rights and privileges to

people of color


Prejudice Negative attitudes about people

Based on racial or ethnic characteristics

Rooted in ethnocentrism

Results in stereotypes


Discrimination

Practices of dominant group that harm subordinate groups:

Individual discrimination is one-on-one acts. Taxi driver who refuses to pick up African

American passengers

Institutional discrimination is day-to-day practices of organizations and institutions.


Social-Psychological Explanations

Frustration-aggression hypothesisFrustration in achieving goal leads to

aggression towards others Scapegoats

Blaming others (illegal aliens) for someone else’s failure

Authoritarian personality Type of personality where one is intolerant,

insecure, rigid, submissive to authority and thinks primarily in stereotypes


Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives

Racial socialization Is learned from parents, caregivers, and

media representations

Contains specifics concerningPersonal and group identity Intergroup and individual relationshipsOne’s position in social stratification


Functionalist Perspectives Racial/ethnic discord and urban unrest are

dysfunctional for society Processes for addressing racial problems

include: Assimilation: absorbed into dominant culture Amalgamation: groups “melt” together to form new

society Ethnic pluralism: coexistence of diverse groups with

separate identities Segregation: separation of groups


Conflict Perspectives Role of capitalist class in racial exploitation

Split-labor market theory Primary and Secondary sector

Racial inequality and gender oppression Capitalist exploitation of minority women

Internal colonialism Minorities forcibly placed under economic and political

control remain in subordinate positions much longer than other groups

Theory of racial formation Government’s legislation and laws impact minorities


Inequality Among Racial & Ethnic Groups Native Americans

15 million lived in US 1492White Europeans engaged in genocide

Deliberate killing of people

Indian Removal Act of 1830 Forced to move to accommodate white settlers

“Trail of Tears”

Children were forced to Americanize


African Americans and Inequality

Contemporary stereotypical media images “Welfare mother” and “menacing black male

criminals”

Forced into slavery to enrich US economics After slavery

De jure segregation: laws that enforced separation Jim Crow Laws

De facto segregation: separation by norms Still exists today


Hispanic Americans and Inequality

Contemporary stereotypical media images “Drug lords” and “illegal aliens”

Internal colonization Mexican-American War

Anglo-Americans took possession of their land

Exclusionary immigration Allowed to migrate when the US needed agricultural

workers Detained or deported during economic depression


Asian and Pacific Americans and Inequality Contemporary stereotypical media images

“Exotic beauties” or “model minority”

Exclusionary immigration Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Chinese laborers seen as a threat to Americans Act halted Chinese immigration to US

Internment camps Japanese Americans forced into camps during WWII


Common Experiences of Subordinate Groups Been the object of stereotyping and

discrimination

Resisted oppression and strived for a better life

Been the object of governmental policies to shape its place (or lack thereof)


Reducing Racial and Ethnic Inequalities Functionalist Perspective: Restructuring

social institutions Conflict Perspective: Struggle and

political action Interactionist Perspective: Unlearning

prejudice and discrimination through social interaction

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racial group group

people of color slide

social stratification

subordinate groups dominant

minority group

majority group