SOC101Y

Introduction to SociologyIntroduction to SociologyProfessor Robert BrymProfessor Robert Brym

Lecture #11Lecture #11Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity

19 Jan 201119 Jan 2011

Dr Samuel George Morton Dr Samuel George Morton 1799-18511799-1851

Criticisms of Morton’s Skull Study

Sample Size difference

NO CONTROLS

72 skulls White skulls 4 in.3 larger than black skulls

CONTROLLING FOR SEX

Male skulls only White skulls 2 in.3 larger than black skulls

Female skulls only Black skulls 1 in.3 larger than white skulls

1.Identifying the race of a skull imprecise even today.2.Small, unrepresentative sample.3.Controlling for sex reduces or eliminates race difference:

Prejudice is an attitude that people employ to judge others on their group’s real or imagined characteristics. Discrimination is unfair treatment of people due to their perceived group membership.

Prejudice and Discrimination

DNA Snips

DNA is a chemical that contains the genetic instructions for all living organisms. When people have a child, the DNA of the mates combines and the child inherits the parents’ DNA. DNA consists of 3 billion pairs of four types of molecules. Different sequences of molecules result in different characteristics (e.g., skin colour). 99.5% of the DNA of all people is identical. The remaining 0.5% of DNA may differ between any two people; these differences (known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, SNPs or “snips”) are the focus of research in the field of comparative genomics.

Comparative Genomics

Snips influence readily apparent physical differences such as skin pigmentation and less apparent physical differences such as the capacity to absorb and utilize various chemicals. Identifying snips of the latter type enables the production of “designer” drugs that are best suited to groups with unique genetic characteristics. Significantly, comparative genomics research focuses on differences between socially distinct groups, such as blacks and whites. Yet genetic diversity is greatest among people of African origin, and genetic variation within other racial groups may be pharmacologically significant.

Base Pairs among Blacks and Whites

Blacks Whites

= Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (“snip”)

More genetic variation exists among blacks than among whites, but comparative genomics research focuses on black-white differences, thus (1) perpetuating the notion that social distinctions are the ones that matter most biologically and (2) failing to realize the full medical potential of the research. Is this research different in its social implications from Morton’s research in the 1850s?

Race, Biology, and Society There is no biological evidence that races differ in ways that explain behavioural differences (e.g., brain studies). Behavioural differences between racial groups are not constant (e.g., group IQ scores and athletic success vary). Behavioural differences between racial groups vary by social circumstance (e.g., upward mobility and academic enrichment boost IQ scores; lack of opportunity for upward mobility increases participation in professional sports)

Physical markers are used to distinguish groups and create inequality based on race. Different social conditions among superordinates and subordinates create behavioral differences between them. Perceptions of behavioral differences get embedded in culture as racial stereotypes. Racial stereotypes reinforce the use of physical markers to distinguish groups.

The Social Roots of Racism

Classes of Immigrants, Canada, 2006

Class Number Percent

Family 70,506 28.0Economic 138,257 54.9Refugee 32,492 12.9Other* 10,394 4.1Total 251,649 99.9**

* Mainly humanitarian and compassionate cases.** Does not equal 100 due to rounding.

Independent Immigrants Need 67 Points Based On:

criterion maximum points

education 25 (PhD or MA max)

language 24 (French, English)

work experience 21 (4+ yrs max)

age 10 (21-49 max)

arranged employment 10

adaptability 10 (work, study, family)

total 100

Race and Ethnicity Defined

A race is composed of people whose perceived physical markers are socially significant (especially in creating and maintaining systems of social inequality). An ethnic group is composed of people whose perceived cultural markers are socially significant (especially in creating and maintaining systems of social inequality).

Six Degrees of Separation Genocide: group extermination (Germans Jews) Expulsion: forcible removal of group from a territory (W. Europeans Native Americans) Slavery: legal ownership of a group (W. Europeans Africans) Segregation: spatial and institutional separation of groups (White Americans African Americans) Pluralism: retention of identity and equal access to basic social resources (Canada today) Assimilation: cultural blending of majority and minority groups (Canada today)

“Slave Ship,” Joseph Turner, 1840

Factors Influencing Factors Influencing AssimilationAssimilation

Length of time in country varies proportionately with assimilation. Socioeconomic status varies proportionately with assimilation. Occupational segregation varies inversely with assimilation. Current and historical discrimination (genocide, expulsion, slavery, segregation) varies inversely with assimilation.

Immigration, Canada, 1860-2001

WWI

Depression & WWII

Note: Annual immigration as a percent of the population has declinedfrom 1.25% in 1851-61 to 0.76% in 2006.

Deracialization

Canada’s Foreign-Born Population by Continent of Birth, 1981-2031

Foreign-born Canadians as percent of population*

1881 14.0%1931 22.2%1981 15.8%2006 19.8%2031 26.5%

* Percentages were read from a graph and are therefore approximate.

Top Ten Countries of Origin, Canadian Immigrants, 2005

(percent of total)China 16.1India 12.6Philippines 6.7Pakistan 5.2United States 3.5Colombia 2.3United Kingdom

2.2

South Korea 2.2Iran 2.1France 2.1

In 2005, the top 10 countries of origin accounted for 55 percent of all immigrants.

Before the mid-1960s, immigration was mainly from Europe. Since the mid-1960s, immigration has been mainly from Asia with a significant admixture from the Caribbean in the 60s and 70s.

Proportion of Population by Ethnic Origin, Single and Multiple Responses,

Canada, 2006Canadian 32.2 Dutch 3.3 Swedish 1.1

English 21.0 Polish 3.2 Spanish 1.0

French 15.8 E. Indian 3.1 American 1.0

Scottish 15.1 Russian 1.6 Hungarian 1.0

Irish 13.9 Welsh 1.4 Jewish 1.0

German 10.2 Filipino 1.4 Greek 0.7

Italian 4.6 Norwegian 1.4 Jamaican 0.7

Chinese 4.3 Portuguese1.3 Danish 0.6

N.A. Indian 3.6 Métis 1.3

Ukrainian 4.0 Oth. British 1.3Note: Equals more than100.0 because multipleresponses allowed.

Visible Minority Population by Visible Minority Group, Canada,

2006Visible minority Million Percen

t

South Asian 1.263 24.9

Chinese 1.217 24.0

Black .784 15.5

Filipino .411 8.1

Latin American .304 6.0

Southeast Asian .240 4.7

Other & multiple v.m.

.849 16.8

Total 5.068 100.0Note: Visible minority Canadians (excluding aboriginal Canadians) represented 16.2 percent of the total population in 2006.

Percent of Population Whose Mother Tongue is not English or French, Canada’s Five Biggest

Cities, 2001

0

10

20

30

40

Toronto

Vancouver

Calgary

Montreal

Edmonton

Winnipeg

Percent

Attitudes Toward Immigration, Canada

Percent

Year

Canadians Feeling Uncomfortable or Out of Place

because of Ethno-Cultural Characteristics, 2002

9

76

24

91

0

20

40

60

80

100

Not a visibleminorityVisible minority

Percent

Canadians Reporting Discrimination or Unfair Treatment “Sometime” or “Often”

in Past 5 Years, 2002

0

10

20

30

40PercentNote: The ‘often’ category alone ranges from a low of 2% for Chinese to a high of 9.5% for Blacks.

Percent Not Wanting Neighbour of a Different Race, Selected

Countries, 2000

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Egypt

Indi

a

South

Kor

ea

Nigeria Ira

n

Philipi

nnes

Poland Ita

ly

Ukrain

eUK

Franc

e

Russia USA

Canad

a

Percent

Canadian Research on Ethnicity, Canadian Research on Ethnicity, Race, and SES: A SummaryRace, and SES: A Summary

Ethnicity is a poor predictor of SES and social mobility in Canada when other causes are held constant. Ethnic inequality is decreasing over time. Members of most ethnic groups experience considerable net upward mobility. The effect of ethnicity on SES weakens as immigrants become more assimilated. These generalizations do not hold as strongly for members of some groups – especially members of racial minorities, particularly black men – as they do overall. In the 1990s and 2000s, upward mobility among racial minority immigrants slowed.

Main Reason for Slowdown in Upward Mobility of Immigrants Since 1990s

Increased importance of credentials for mobility combined with ineffective mechanisms for recognizing foreign credentials.