Ethnic Boundary

Ethnic Boundary

TheoryTheory

Large and Small-Scale Ethnic Boundaries

Large and Small-Scale Ethnic Boundaries

Boundary Marking & Boundary Shifts

Boundary Marking & Boundary Shifts

Twilight Of Ethnicity

Twilight Of Ethnicity

Symbolic Ethnicity

Symbolic Ethnicity

““Ethnic Options”

Ethnic Options”

Eth

nic

Eth

nic

B

oundari

es

Boundari

es

Large-Scale Large-Scale Ethnic BoundariesEthnic Boundaries

Small-ScaleSmall-Scale(White) Ethnic Boundaries(White) Ethnic Boundaries

Boundary

B

oundary

M

ark

ing &

M

ark

ing &

B

oundary

Shifts

Boundary

Shifts

• • Boundary Marking:

Boundary Marking:

Occurs when ethnic distinctions are maintained

[by group members, not outsiders] by language,

food, culture, or other “markers” that identify

group members to each other and to

outsiders.

• • Boundary Shifting:

Boundary Shifting:

Individuals

Individuals: : Occurs when individuals move across

an ethnic boundary (structurally and culturally)

Groups: Occurs when boundaries become less

salient (e.g., occupations) or previously recognized

distinctions are removed (e.g., religious

celebrations)

Richard AlbaRichard Alba

Does E

thnicity S

till

Does E

thnicity S

till

Matte

r?M

atte

r?Robert ParkRobert Park: Because : Because

of of “straight-line” “straight-line” assimilation.assimilation.

Richard AlbaRichard Alba: Because of a : Because of a “twilight of ethnicity”“twilight of ethnicity” leaving leaving

social class, not ethnicity, as the social class, not ethnicity, as the key determinant of outcomes.key determinant of outcomes.

Emile DurkheimEmile Durkheim: Because of a : Because of a shift from a shift from a ““mechanistic”mechanistic” to an to an

““organic”organic” division of labor. division of labor. Ascription matters less than Ascription matters less than

achievement.achievement.

Does E

thnicity S

till

Does E

thnicity S

till

Matte

r?M

atte

r?Herbert GansHerbert Gans: The vestigial value : The vestigial value

of of “Symbolic Ethnicity”“Symbolic Ethnicity”Heritage Festivals • Homeland Tourism • Ancestral Language Heritage Festivals • Homeland Tourism • Ancestral Language

ClassClass

Factors Which Increase IdentificationFactors Which Increase IdentificationGenerational ComponentGenerational Component

Socioeconomic StatusSocioeconomic StatusIntact FamiliesIntact Families

Country Of OriginCountry Of Origin

Mary WatersMary Waters: Whites are still : Whites are still capable of taking advantage of capable of taking advantage of

theirtheir ““Ethnic Options”Ethnic Options”