Race, Ethnicity, and Coloniality Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which stage of economic growth is characterized by low savings rates and a lack of work ethic?

Traditional stage (correct)

High mass consumption

Takeoff to economic growth

Drive to economic maturity

What is a key characteristic of the takeoff to economic growth stage?

Establishment of a fully automated economy

Increased international trade without government intervention

Changes in values and institutions that promote savings (correct)

Significant technological maturity

According to dependency theory, what is a primary cause of poverty in low-income countries?

Self-imposed rigid cultural values

Exploitation by wealthy countries and multinational corporations (correct)

A lack of modern technology

Insufficient governmental policies

What does the drive to economic maturity stage lead to?

Technological maturity and economic acceleration Signup and view all the answers

What assumption does modernization theory make about the development of low-income societies?

They can develop only by adopting modern institutions and values Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of dependent development suggest about poor countries?

Their economic development is influenced by wealthier countries. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the four overlapping elements that shape the world system according to Wallerstein?

Cultural exchange among nations. Signup and view all the answers

Which economic zone is characterized by low-income, largely agricultural countries?

Periphery Signup and view all the answers

Why is the world system described as slow to change?

Wealthier countries are unwilling to share their wealth. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'multipolar world' signify in the context of global power dynamics?

A system with many powerful nations rather than just a few. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of liberal feminism?

To achieve gender equality through legislative change Signup and view all the answers

Which of these classifications includes countries with an average annual income of $12,476 or more?

High income Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the world's population is classified as lower middle income?

75% Signup and view all the answers

What economic principle does market-oriented theory advocate?

Independence in economic decision-making Signup and view all the answers

Which feminist perspective revolves around male domination as a source of inequality?

Radical feminism Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant unresolved issue within feminism?

The focus solely on women's issues Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario describes a low income country?

A country with a predominately agricultural economy and an average income of $2,500 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following regions is primarily composed of middle income countries?

East and Southeast Asia Signup and view all the answers

How does ethnicity serve to impose categorization in society?

It preserves social ranks and diminishes conflicts. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of coloniality primarily promote?

Hierarchies and social ranks. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential effect of institutionalized racism in a post-WW2 context for the USA?

It hindered upward mobility of non-white ethnicities. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does decoloniality seek to transform societal structures?

By confronting and breaking from traditional coloniality. Signup and view all the answers

How does meritocracy relate to ethnicity and job opportunities?

It can be biased against non-white ethnicities. Signup and view all the answers

What role does ethnicity play in socialization within various cultural contexts?

It creates exclusive social environments. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the relationship between racism and ethnicity?

Racism has historically been implicit within the concept of ethnicity. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested as an outcome of the decolonization process?

A transformation rather than elimination of coloniality. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a patriarchal society?

A society controlled by men. Signup and view all the answers

How does intersectionality affect individuals in society?

It highlights how multiple group memberships shape unique life experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What is hegemonic masculinity commonly referred to as?

Toxic masculinity. Signup and view all the answers

What is gender role socialization primarily influenced by?

Social factors such as media, family, and education. Signup and view all the answers

What does biological essentialism propose?

Gender differences are inevitable due to biological nature. Signup and view all the answers

How does patriarchy generally influence economic structures?

It often leads to male dominance in economic positions and decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

What is the social expectation of gender roles often based upon?

Moral standards set by those in power. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of patriarchy on women's roles in society?

Women are relegated to less significant roles. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a minority group in a society?

Their position of disadvantage relative to the dominant group. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'ethnicity'?

A social identity encompassing cultural values and norms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key element of the concept of 'Americanity'?

A new world system distinct from European systems. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'coloniality' refer to?

A mindset of subordination based on historical hierarchies. Signup and view all the answers

How do independence movements impact coloniality?

They transform coloniality’s outer forms but may not eliminate it. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following defines 'collective identity' in the context of ethnicity?

A set of communal boundaries influenced by society and self-perception. Signup and view all the answers

What role do stigmas and stereotypes play in coloniality?

They perpetuate a subordination mindset towards non-European countries. Signup and view all the answers

Which hierarchical structure persists after traditional colonialism according to the content?

A socio-cultural hierarchy differentiating European and non-European groups. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Race, Ethnicity, and Racism

Minority group: A group in society who face disadvantage due to their physical, ethnic, or cultural characteristics compared to the dominant group.
Race: A category based on the belief in fundamental differences between humans stemming from ancestral elements. Examples include Black, White, Asian, Hispanic.
Ethnicity: A type of social identity rooted in ancestral and cultural elements (more specific than race). This includes cultural values, language, history, religion, and clothing. Examples of ethnic groups include Mayan, Aztec, Caucasian, Hutu, and Tutsi.
Americanity: A concept of a "new world" system distinct from the old European world system.

Coloniality

Coloniality: The concept of newness itself, referring to the various state hierarchies (e.g., world leaders, empires, colonies) and how they persist even after the end of colonialism.
End of traditional colonialism: Does the end of traditional colonialism mean the end of the hierarchies of European and non-European? No, the socioeconomic hierarchy continues in a new form.
Coloniality as a mindset: Coloniality is a mindset of subordination based on stigmas and harmful stereotypes that persist and often go unnoticed.
Impact of colonialism: Former colonies often continue to experience the negative effects of coloniality through cultural stereotypes and the perpetuation of subordinate positions.

Ethnicity

Collective identity: A shared identity among people who identify with the same group.
Categorization: The process through which groups are categorized, often contributing to the perpetuation of existing power imbalances.
Colonilaity and ethnicity: Is ethnicity an unavoidable outcome of colonialism? Does categorization of labor (e.g., slavery, agricultural work for white laborers), justify social constructs? Ethnicity can be used as a mechanism of control due to its connection with coloniality.

Racism

Racism: An implicit, historical, and implicit form of racism—not new—that was a fundamental part of the creation of Americanity.
Americanity: The societal values and norms shaping America after colonialism.
Explicit Racism: Racism becoming more explicit as a result of the construction of American concepts.
Post-WWII racism: The idea that the USA, as a superpower, cannot be racist after WWII.

Decoloniality

Coloniality's impact on knowledge: Promotes hierarchies and ranks, even in areas like knowledge, politics, and economics, subordinating those in lower-ranked positions.
Breaking from traditional coloniality: Decoloniality strives to confront and disengage from the traditional colonial matrix, enabling less-ranked states and their societies to grow.
Colonial power structures: Decoloniality acknowledges the enduring colonial structures of power that continue to shape societal organization.
Impact of colonization on knowledge: Colonization created distorted paradigms of knowledge and diminished the liberating promises of modernity.

Patriarchy

Patriarchal society: Societal control by men; a key example is where the oldest male is the leader and is in a position of power.
Dominion: Men hold dominion over women and are in positions of power/control over other aspects of societal decision making.
Effects of Patriarchal Systems: This hierarchical social order impacts the economy, production, and access to natural resources.

Basic Concepts

Intersectionality: How multiple social categorizations shape one's identity and social experience.
Sex: Biological differences between males and females.
Gender: Social expectations and attributes associated with each sex.
Sexuality: Sexual behaviours, attractions, and relationships among individuals.

Feminism

Feminist sociology: Focuses on gender's centrality in analyzing social structures, particularly the unique experiences of women.
Gender Roles: Social expectations of behaviors and characteristics based on a person's sex assigned at birth.
Variations within feminism: Different schools of thought like Liberal Feminism and Radical Feminism have different approaches and goals.

Global Inequality

Systematic differences in wealth and power: There are significant differences in wealth and power amongst various countries and within them.
Micro vs. Macro inequalities: Within country and country to country inequality.
World Bank Classification: Different countries are categorized based on their income levels, such as high-income, upper-middle income, lower-middle income, and low-income.
High-income: Countries that industrialized first, starting in England.
Middle-income: Primarily located in Asia and oil-rich countries in North Africa.
Low-income: Mostly located in Africa and Asia regions with agricultural economies.
Global wealth production: Countries are measured based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per citizen.

Theories

Market-oriented theory: Focuses on individual economic decisions, with limited regulation from governments.
Modernization theory: Outlines an economic development process for less developed countries.
Dependency theory: Argues that economic exploitation (like colonialism) is the key reason why many countries are poor.

World System Theory

Unequal Economic Zones: Wallerstein's concept of core, semi-periphery, and periphery countries illustrating varying levels of economic influence and exploitation.
Global economic system: A global interlinked system (capitalist).
Core countries (wealthy): Countries with advanced economies that dominate international trade.
Peripheral countries (low-income): Countries with limited industrialization and often serve as suppliers to core countries.
Semi-periphery countries (middle-income): Countries that are industrializing and play a less dominant role in the global economy.

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Description

Explore the concepts of race, ethnicity, and coloniality in society. This quiz covers key terms such as minority groups, the significance of ethnicity, and the implications of coloniality in modern contexts. Test your understanding of these important social constructs.