EthnicityEthnicity

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TermsTerms•Ethnic: Ethnic: from the Greek from the Greek

ethnikosethnikos, or “national.”, or “national.”•Ethnicity:Ethnicity:

– ““identity with a group of people identity with a group of people who share the cultural traditions who share the cultural traditions of a particular homeland or of a particular homeland or hearth.”hearth.”

•Race:Race:– ““identity with a group of people identity with a group of people

who share a biological ancestor.”who share a biological ancestor.”

RaceRace• Sunlight stimulates the production of melanin Sunlight stimulates the production of melanin

which protects the skin from damaging which protects the skin from damaging ultraviolet rays, the more melanin is present ultraviolet rays, the more melanin is present the darker the skin will be.the darker the skin will be.

• SoSome theorize that once people were out of Africa, there was a lot more me theorize that once people were out of Africa, there was a lot more variation in levels of sunlight.  People in northern latitudes did not need as variation in levels of sunlight.  People in northern latitudes did not need as dark a skin for protection, and so the natural variations returned and some dark a skin for protection, and so the natural variations returned and some people became lighter again.  Others, staying in southern latitudes such as people became lighter again.  Others, staying in southern latitudes such as India, Southeast Asia, and Australia, retained one level or another of India, Southeast Asia, and Australia, retained one level or another of darkness for protection.  So, in Asia, we see a smooth range of skin tones darkness for protection.  So, in Asia, we see a smooth range of skin tones from very light brown in Siberia to dark brown in India. It seems that in the from very light brown in Siberia to dark brown in India. It seems that in the far north, there isn't enough sun to help us manufacture vitamin D.  So far north, there isn't enough sun to help us manufacture vitamin D.  So light - even white - skin became better for survival, because it can absorb light - even white - skin became better for survival, because it can absorb more sunlight. more sunlight. 

A. Ethnic A. Ethnic GeographyGeography

1. Study of spatial distributions & interactions of ethnic ethnic groupsgroups

- practice unique adaptive strategies - normally occupy defined areas

2. ethnic groups: populations bound by a common place of origin & culture, religion, language

- Is there such a thing as being “black”?- Is there such a thing as being “black”?

- “White”? What is “whiteness”?- “White”? What is “whiteness”?

- “Latino”? - “Latino”?

- Do the ideas of ethnicity and race create Do the ideas of ethnicity and race create a divide between “us” and “them”?a divide between “us” and “them”?

B. Problems encountered B. Problems encountered when defining “when defining “ethnic”ethnic”

1.1.ethnicethnic derives from Greek word derives from Greek word ethnos ethnos meaning “people” or “nation” meaning “people” or “nation”

2.2. ““Ethnic”: a minority group in a Ethnic”: a minority group in a host host cultureculture

3.3. strong feeling of group identitystrong feeling of group identity

Problems (Pt. 2)Problems (Pt. 2)

– membership is involuntary membership is involuntary – born into the group born into the group – individuals may choose to discard individuals may choose to discard

their ethnicitytheir ethnicity– politicspolitics

Problems (Pt. 3)Problems (Pt. 3)

Main problem is different groups Main problem is different groups base their identities on different base their identities on different traits :traits :

Jews—primarily means religion Jews—primarily means religion

The Amish—both folk culture & religion The Amish—both folk culture & religion

African-Americans—skin color African-Americans—skin color

Swiss-Americans—national origin Swiss-Americans—national origin

German-Americans—ancestral language German-Americans—ancestral language

Cuban-Americans—anti-Castro, and anti-Cuban-Americans—anti-Castro, and anti-communistcommunist

C. Role of ethnic groupsC. Role of ethnic groups

1.1. ““Keepers” of cultural traditions Keepers” of cultural traditions

2.2. provides group identity: provides group identity:

friendships, marriage, religionfriendships, marriage, religion

3.3. provides recreational outlets, business provides recreational outlets, business opportunities, & political poweropportunities, & political power

4.4. Can give rise to suspicion, friction, distrust….Can give rise to suspicion, friction, distrust….

even violenceeven violence

D. How ethnic groups D. How ethnic groups changechange

Acculturation:Acculturation: an ethnic group adopts the an ethnic group adopts the host society’s wayshost society’s ways

Assimilation:Assimilation: a complete blending with a complete blending with the host culture the host culture

– involves loss of distinctive ethnic traits involves loss of distinctive ethnic traits

Ex: “Americans” are descendants of Germans, Ex: “Americans” are descendants of Germans, Scots, Irish, French, Swedes, Welsh, Native Scots, Irish, French, Swedes, Welsh, Native AmericansAmericans

– Intermarriage: most effective assimilatory Intermarriage: most effective assimilatory devicedevice

Ethnic IslandsEthnic Islands

Westby, WisconsinWestby, Wisconsin

A. How do “ethnic islands” A. How do “ethnic islands” begin?begin?

charter groupcharter group: the dominant ethnic group : the dominant ethnic group that sets the cultural norms and standards of that sets the cultural norms and standards of an areaan area

ethnic islandsethnic islands: clustering of one particular : clustering of one particular ethnic group in a geographic areaethnic group in a geographic area

Ethnic Neighborhood:Ethnic Neighborhood:Sao Paulo, BrazilSao Paulo, Brazil

Indigenous Ethnic Islands in Indigenous Ethnic Islands in Latin AmericaLatin America

B. Migration & B. Migration & EthnicityEthnicityI.I. Chain migration Chain migration (communication with residents from (communication with residents from

the place of emigration):the place of emigration):

– the decision to migrate spreads by both the decision to migrate spreads by both hierarchical & hierarchical & contagious diffusioncontagious diffusion

– actual migration = actual migration = relocation diffusionrelocation diffusion– chain migration chain migration continuescontinues– Chain migration causes the movement of people to become Chain migration causes the movement of people to become

channelizedchannelized Ex: Ex: different parts of the Southwest draw upon different different parts of the Southwest draw upon different source regions in Mexicosource regions in Mexico

Ex. Of Channelized Ex. Of Channelized MigrationMigration

II.II. Cluster MigrationCluster Migration: : ethnic groups ethnic groups immigrating from one place & forming a immigrating from one place & forming a homogenous community in the host homogenous community in the host cultureculture

Exs: Exs: - Mormons in Utah- Mormons in Utah

- Dutch in Pennsylvania - Dutch in Pennsylvania

- French in Quebec- French in Quebec

Ethnic Business:Ethnic Business:East Los AngelesEast Los Angeles

Ethnic Landscape:Ethnic Landscape:New ZealandNew Zealand

It is a non-It is a non-Maori house Maori house

type with type with Maori designMaori design

C. Ethnic Islands & Cultural C. Ethnic Islands & Cultural Conflict:Conflict:

Current ethnic conflicts:Current ethnic conflicts:

1.1. Armenia (Christian-Muslim)Armenia (Christian-Muslim)2.2. the former Yugoslavia (Serbian Christians-the former Yugoslavia (Serbian Christians-

Bosnian Muslims)Bosnian Muslims)3.3. Sudan (Darfur)Sudan (Darfur)4.4. Nigeria (Muslim north-mixed religion Nigeria (Muslim north-mixed religion

south)south)5.5. Ireland (Protestant pro-British vs. Catholic Ireland (Protestant pro-British vs. Catholic

Irish)Irish)6.6. Kashmir (India vs. Pakistan)Kashmir (India vs. Pakistan)

Religions in the Former Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia – mostly Catholic in north, Orthodox Christian in south, w/ Muslims mixed throughout

“Ethnic cleansing” occurred in 1992 in Kosovo – ethnic Albanians (Muslim) were severely oppressed by Serbian nationalists

Armenian exclave (Christian) in Azerbaijan (Nagorno-Karabakh)

Azerbaijani exclave (Muslim) in Armenia (Nakhichevan)

North African Transition Zone:- predominately Muslim north (with Sharia laws) while the

south is mostly Christian/traditional African religions

Nigeria Nigeria

Religious separation in N. Ireland & India