Podcast
Questions and Answers
All of these are examples of microaggressions EXCEPT ______________
All of these are examples of microaggressions EXCEPT ______________
Which term describes the use of coded language to convey racial hostility in politics?
Which term describes the use of coded language to convey racial hostility in politics?
Which statement accurately reflects the concept of 'new racism' as discussed in contemporary society?
Which statement accurately reflects the concept of 'new racism' as discussed in contemporary society?
What does the concept of 'symbolic racism' refer to?
What does the concept of 'symbolic racism' refer to?
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Which of the following is NOT one of the three distinct microaggressions?
Which of the following is NOT one of the three distinct microaggressions?
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How did the historical context of racism manifest in Britain concerning cultural interactions?
How did the historical context of racism manifest in Britain concerning cultural interactions?
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What was a major concern regarding immigration in France related to racism?
What was a major concern regarding immigration in France related to racism?
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What did Martin Barker claim about new forms of racism?
What did Martin Barker claim about new forms of racism?
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What is a critique of the view that racism is exclusively a white phenomenon?
What is a critique of the view that racism is exclusively a white phenomenon?
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How is ethnicity primarily defined in contrast to 'race'?
How is ethnicity primarily defined in contrast to 'race'?
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What does the concept of new racism suggest?
What does the concept of new racism suggest?
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Which of the following statements reflects a misconception about minorities and racism?
Which of the following statements reflects a misconception about minorities and racism?
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Why is the idea of colorism significant in discussions of racism?
Why is the idea of colorism significant in discussions of racism?
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What is the primary focus of assimilation as a process?
What is the primary focus of assimilation as a process?
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Which dimension of ethnicity relates to historical factors such as ancestry and homeland?
Which dimension of ethnicity relates to historical factors such as ancestry and homeland?
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How did racial classifications serve plantation owners during the enslavement of Africans?
How did racial classifications serve plantation owners during the enslavement of Africans?
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What shift occurred in the perception of 'race' by the 19th century?
What shift occurred in the perception of 'race' by the 19th century?
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What assumption does scientific racism make about Homo sapiens?
What assumption does scientific racism make about Homo sapiens?
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What significant finding did the Human Genome Project reveal about genetic material among humans?
What significant finding did the Human Genome Project reveal about genetic material among humans?
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What concept emphasizes that 'race' is a socially constructed category?
What concept emphasizes that 'race' is a socially constructed category?
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What does the term 'racialization' suggest about interactions involving 'race'?
What does the term 'racialization' suggest about interactions involving 'race'?
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Which of the following indicates the historical context of racial categorization?
Which of the following indicates the historical context of racial categorization?
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How did Europeans justify colonization of Indigenous lands?
How did Europeans justify colonization of Indigenous lands?
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Max Weber defined ethnicity by characteristics such as common descent, culture, and language.
Max Weber defined ethnicity by characteristics such as common descent, culture, and language.
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The concept of ethnicity is solely based on genetic differences among groups.
The concept of ethnicity is solely based on genetic differences among groups.
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Group boundaries can facilitate monopolistic closure, granting exclusive access to resources.
Group boundaries can facilitate monopolistic closure, granting exclusive access to resources.
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Culture allows for the acquisition and transmission of ethnic identities among individuals.
Culture allows for the acquisition and transmission of ethnic identities among individuals.
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The Human Genome Project found that humans share only 90% of their genetic material.
The Human Genome Project found that humans share only 90% of their genetic material.
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Racialization occurs when individuals are treated based on objective biological differences among races.
Racialization occurs when individuals are treated based on objective biological differences among races.
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Before the late 19th century, 'race' was primarily defined by physical characteristics.
Before the late 19th century, 'race' was primarily defined by physical characteristics.
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Assimilation refers to ethnic groups entirely abandoning their own culture in favor of the dominant culture.
Assimilation refers to ethnic groups entirely abandoning their own culture in favor of the dominant culture.
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Scientific racism assumes that cultural variation is influenced by biological differences between races.
Scientific racism assumes that cultural variation is influenced by biological differences between races.
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Microassaults refer to subtle snubs experienced in everyday life.
Microassaults refer to subtle snubs experienced in everyday life.
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Microaggressions can only be intentional and are always intended to harm.
Microaggressions can only be intentional and are always intended to harm.
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New racism includes the use of coded language in political contexts.
New racism includes the use of coded language in political contexts.
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Symbolic racism promotes equality while implementing policies that benefit only certain racial groups.
Symbolic racism promotes equality while implementing policies that benefit only certain racial groups.
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The concept of 'new racism' suggests that old-style racism has been entirely eradicated from society.
The concept of 'new racism' suggests that old-style racism has been entirely eradicated from society.
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Study Notes
Assimilation
- Assimilation is the process by which members of ethnic groups are integrated into the dominant culture of a society
Ethnic Identity
- Ethnic identity can be collective (consensus within the group) or individual (the relationships of individuals to their own ethnic collectivity)
- Ethnic identity is the result of the relationship between the diachronic and synchronic dimensions of ethnicity
- Diachronic dimensions of ethnicity form the core of one’s ethnic identity (e.g., ancestry, homeland, etc.)
- Synchronic dimensions of ethnicity refer to how an individual or ethnic group is defined, evaluated, and treated by others
A Short History of “Race”
- Before the late 19th century, “race” referred to lineage and was defined in religious and environmental terms
- European exploration in the 15th century brought them into contact with other people, who seemed different in physical appearance, culture, and religion
- Europeans used these differences to justify their actions
Plantation Owners
- Plantation owners used religious explanations of their “superiority”, often making reference to the Bible, to justify the enslavement of Africans
European Classifications
- Europeans classified Indigenous people as “heathen” based on religious differences.
- Their classification as “heathens” meant Indigenous people were not seen as rightful occupants of the land
Colonial Settlement
- These ideas served as justification for colonial settlement of Indigenous lands
The 19th Century
- By the 19th century, colonialism and science influenced the meaning of “race”
- “Race” began to be used to explain physical, social, moral, and intellectual variation among people, and the apparent technological superiority of Europeans
- European scientists used racial typologies that helped to perpetuate systematic expressions of biologically informed racism
“Race” and Scientific Racism
- Scientific theories advancing doctrines of racial typologies make certain assumptions:
- There are distinct and permanent types of Homo sapiens
- Physical differences and behaviors are expressions of discrete biological types
- Cultural variation is determined by biological type
- Biological variations are the origin of conflict between individuals and nations
- “Races” are differentially endowed such that some are inherently inferior to others
Modern Versions of “Race” Science
- Despite attempts to end race science and racism after the second world war, some scholars have continued to search for biologically-based differences among “races”
- These attempts include attempting to identify “race” difference in intelligence, social behavior, and sexual anatomy and behavior
- These works are discredited as racist in themselves and for lacking sound scientific bases
- They are also criticized for lacking historical and socioeconomic contexts
The Human Genome Project
- The Human Genome Project began in 1987 in an attempt to trace the human genome
- The project found that humans share as much as 99.9% of genetic material
- The Haplotype Project seeks to find out the significance of this 0.1 per cent difference
- Genetic mapping has raised questions concerning ethical implications and how the information will be used
- Equating genetic differences to “race” can have real consequences
Racialization and the Social Construction of “Race”
- “Race” is a socially constructed category used to categorize humans
- Racialization emphasizes the socially constructed nature of “race” as opposed to there being biological differences between people
- The use of the concept “race” can reify it (treat it as it is real)
- Individuals and groups can be “racialized,” whereby attention is drawn to their “race” as a way to understand and explain interactions and processes
Racism
- There is no uniformly agreed-upon definition of the term
- Racism occurs in everyday life, at both individual and institutional levels
- Martin Barker (1981) argued that negative evaluations of racially defined groups were being masked in new, racially neutral language and rearticulated to make them more politically acceptable in public discourse, which he called “new racism”
- What are considered “old style” racism and discriminations may have been replaced by more subtle forms of racism such as microaggressions
Microaggression
- Microaggression refers to “brief commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial, gender, sexual orientation, and religious slights and insults to the target person or group” (Sue, 2010:5)
- Three distinct but interrelated microaggressions:
- Microassaults—using an explicitly racial epithet
- Microinsults– subtle snubs that people experience in their everyday lives
- Microinvalidations—are incidents that invalidate the feeling that an individual has of certain interaction
“Dog-whistle” Politics
- Coded racial appeals by politicians to direct hostilities to minority groups (e.g international)
New Racism in Britain and France
- In Britain, the rise of problems in society was argued to be a result of different cultures coming into contact with one another
- Racism was expressed in coded language and in anti-immigration agendas
- In France, arguments were made that immigration would lead to racial and ethnic mixing, which would lead to a loss of cultures (both the culture of origin and culture of settlement)
- Creation of group boundaries around notions of cultural differences
New Racism in the United States
- Scholars point to the prevalence of Anti-black racism in the US
- “Symbolic racism” includes language promoting equality and freedom for all, but policies that disadvantage minorities
- Rodriguez (1999, p. 376) argued that new racism in the U.S.
Summary
- Ethnicity and “race” are persistent bases for the formation of social groups.
- Ethnicity is usually associated with people’s cultural characteristics while ‘race’ is believed to be an irrational way of dividing human populations into groups based on members’ physical characteristics
- New racism shows that while articulations of racism may have changed, groups continue to be categorized based on “race” and ethnicity
- Some scholars argue that white racism is the only racism, others contest this way of thinking
Ethnicity
- Based on "sameness" preference for "own kind"
- "Us" vs "Them" feelings create boundaries
- Practices of inclusion/exclusion, influence group formation
- Max Weber: Ethnicity is common descent, tribe, culture, language, religion, and nationality
- "Ethnic groups" believe in common descent, based on physical type or customs, or colonization/migration
- "Race" denotes groups based on heredity and endogamous conjugal groups
- Group boundaries separate based on perceived differences
- Group boundaries enable monopolistic closure to scarce resources
- Belief in "common descent" leads to formation of "nationality"
- These distinct "nations" create nation-states
- Pre-Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution, large political entities were multi-ethnic and multinational
Culture and Ethnicity
- Culture is dynamic and socially constituted, individuals respond to changing conditions
- Culture transmits and acquires ethnic identities
- Assimilation incorporates ethnic groups into dominant culture
Ethnic Identity
- Collective (consensus within group) or individual (relationship of individuals to ethnic collectivity)
- Kallen: ethnic identity is the interrelationship between the diachronic and synchronic dimensions
- Diachronic dimensions are the core (ancestry, homeland)
- Synchronic dimensions define, evaluate, and treat individual/group by others
History of "Race"
- Historically defined in terms of physical and genetic characteristics, or ascriptive characteristic
- Pre-19th century "race" meant lineage, defined religiously and environmentally
- European exploration brought contact with physically, culturally, and religiously different "Others"
- Europeans used differences for justification
- Plantation owners used religious explanations of "superiority" to justify slavery
- Europeans classified Indigenous people as "heathens" based on religious differences
- This classification meant Indigenous people were not rightful land occupants
- These ideas justified colonial settlement
"Race" and Scientific Racism
- 19th century intersection of colonialism and science shifted meaning of "race"
- Used to explain physical, social, moral, and intellectual variation, and perceived technological superiority of Europeans
- European scientists created racial typologies that perpetuated biologically informed racism
- Knox (1850) published "The Races of Men" focused on "horizontal" differences between groups
Scientific Racism Assumptions
- Distinct and permanent types of Homo sapiens
- Physical differences and behaviors are expressions of biological type
- Cultural variation determined by biological type
- Biological variations is the origin of conflict
- "Races" are differentially endowed
Modern Versions of "Race" Science
- Attempts to end race science and racism post WW2
- Some scholars continue to search for biologically based differences
- These attempts include identifying "race" differences in intelligence, social behavior, and sexual anatomy/behavior
- These are discredited as racist and lacking scientific basis
- Also criticized for lacking historical and socioeconomic contexts
Human Genome Project
- Began in 1987 to trace human genome
- Project discovered humans share 99.9% of genetic material
- Haplotype Project seeks significance of 0.1% difference
- Genetic mapping raised ethical concerns and use of information
- Equating genetic differences to "race" has real consequences
Racialization and Social Construction of "Race"
- "Race" is socially constructed to categorize humans
- Racialization emphasizes social construction, not biological differences
- Use of "race" can reify it (treat as real)
- Individuals and groups can be "racialized," drawing attention to "race"
- "Race" is not an objectively measurable aspect
Racism
- No single definition
- Occurs at individual and institutional levels
- Barker (1981): negative evaluations of racially defined groups masked in racially neutral language
- "New racism" made racism more politically acceptable in discourse
- "Old style" racism and discriminations replaced by subtle forms like microaggressions
Microaggressions
- Brief, commonplace verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities
- Communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial, gender, sexual orientation, and religious slights and insults
- Microassaults: explicitly racial epithets
- Microinsults: subtle snubs
- Microinvalidations: invalidate feelings
- "Dog-whistle" politics: coded racial appeals by politicians to target minorities
New Racism in Britain and France
- Britain: Rise of problems is due to different cultures coming in contact
- Racism expressed in coded language, anti-immigration agendas
- France: Immigration leads to racial and ethnic mixing, loss of cultures
- Cultural differences create group boundaries
New Racism in the United States
- Anti-black racism is prevalent
- "Symbolic racism" includes language promoting equality, but policies disadvantage minorities
- Rodriguez: new racism is linked to "nativism" (fear of "foreignness")
- Fear of non-English languages
- Fear of abuse of multicultural ideology and affirmative action
New Racism in Canada
- Henry and Tator: "democratic racism"
- Two conflicting sets of values made congruent
- Commitments to democratic principles conflict with attitudes and behaviors including negative feelings about minorities
- Expressed through discourse of domination (myths, explanations, codes, rationalizations)
- Discourses of: color-blindness, equal opportunity, blaming the victim, multiculturalism
Critiques of New Racism
- Attaches simple motivations to complex ideas and discourse
- Essentializes the category of whiteness, homogenizes ethno-racial communities
- No clear division between "old" and "new" racism
White Racism
- Often seen as inherent to only white people
- Feagin and Vera: White Americans hold institutional power, denying people of color dignity, opportunities, freedoms, and rewards
- Minorities are powerless to act on prejudice
- Minorities do not possess a system of racialized subordination and discrimination
Critiques of White Racism
- Assumes minority members are powerless against white power structure
- Individuals within minority communities are not immune or powerless
- Colorism occurs within both white society and racialized groups
Summary
- Ethnicity and "race" are basis for social groups
- Ethnicity associated with cultural characteristics, while "race" is irrational and based on physical characteristics
- New racism shows that while articulations have changed, groups are still categorized by "race" and ethnicity
- Some scholars argue that white racism is the only kind; others contest this perspective
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Description
Explore the concepts of assimilation and ethnic identity through this engaging quiz. Dive into the historical perspectives of race and the intricacies of how ethnic groups integrate into dominant cultures. Test your knowledge on the diachronic and synchronic dimensions of ethnicity.
