Race and Ethnicity Key Terms

Prejudice

• Prejudice describes the attitude that leads to adverse actions against subordinate groups.

Within-Group Variation

• Within-group variation signifies that differences in racial categories are more significant within groups than between them.

Institutional Discrimination

• Institutional discrimination occurs when policies or practices within organizations systematically disadvantage certain groups, such as denying loans or hiring opportunities to minority applicants.

Contact Hypothesis

• The contact hypothesis suggests that interaction with different racial groups can reduce prejudice by promoting understanding and empathy.

Amalgamation

• Amalgamation is a pattern of intergroup relations where a new race is formed from different ethnic backgrounds through intermarriage and blending.

Functionalist Perspective

• The functionalist perspective in sociology argues that men occupy positions of authority in society due to their presumed role as providers and protectors.

13th Amendment

• The 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

Homophobia

• Homophobia refers to the fear or hostility toward individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Gender Identity

• Gender identity refers to an individual's internal sense of their gender, which may or may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Invisible Barrier

• A key characteristic of the glass ceiling phenomenon is an invisible barrier that hinders the advancement of women and minorities into leadership positions despite their qualifications and achievements.

Intersectionality

• Feminist theories concerning race prioritize the concept of intersectionality, highlighting how race, class, gender, and other social categories intertwine to create unique experiences of oppression.

Symbolic Interactionism

• The interactionist perspective on gender bias can be illustrated by everyday interactions where gender roles and assumptions are reinforced through language, behavior, and social expectations.

Social Justice

• The primary aim of the current wave of feminism is to achieve social justice by dismantling systems of oppression that perpetuate inequality based on gender and other social categories.

Test your knowledge on key terms related to race, ethnicity, and discrimination. This quiz covers essential social concepts like prejudice, racism, and gender identity, providing a comprehensive understanding of how these terms impact society. Challenge yourself to understand the nuances behind these constructs.