Questions and Answers
What is a minority group?
What is the most important characteristic of a minority group?
Inequality
What does stratification refer to?
The unequal distribution of valued goods and services.
How does being a member of a minority group affect access to property, prestige, and power?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines race?
Signup and view all the answers
What is ethnicity?
Signup and view all the answers
Identify the characteristics of ethnic groups. (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
What is racial formation?
Signup and view all the answers
Who argued that the most important source of inequality is economic production?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Max Weber believe about stratification?
Signup and view all the answers
What does intersectionality or intersection theory emphasize?
Signup and view all the answers
What is prejudice?
Signup and view all the answers
What are stereotypes?
Signup and view all the answers
What is discrimination?
Signup and view all the answers
What is ideological racism?
Signup and view all the answers
What is institutional discrimination?
Signup and view all the answers
What does modern racism mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is white privilege?
Signup and view all the answers
What does assimilation mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the melting pot concept?
Signup and view all the answers
What was established by the National Origins Act of 1924?
Signup and view all the answers
What is symbolic ethnicity?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Minority Groups and Inequality
- Minority groups face patterns of disadvantage and inequality, clearly marked by visible traits.
- Membership in these groups is often determined at birth and includes a tendency for intra-group marriage.
- Inequality is the defining characteristic of minority status.
Stratification and Its Effects
- Stratification refers to the unequal distribution of valuable goods and services among groups.
- Membership in a minority group significantly impacts access to property, prestige, and power.
Understanding Race and Ethnicity
- Race categorizes individuals based on physical characteristics.
- Ethnicity distinguishes groups based on historical cultural practices and outlooks.
Characteristics of Ethnic Groups
- Unique cultural traits, community sense, ethnocentrism, ascribed membership from birth, and territoriality define ethnic groups.
Racial Formation and Theoretical Perspectives
- Racial formation is a social process of creating and transforming racial categories.
- Karl Marx emphasized economic production as the root cause of inequality, while Max Weber advocated a multidimensional view involving wealth, prestige, and power.
- Patricia Hill Collins highlighted the inadequacy of examining dimensions of inequality in isolation.
Intersectionality and Discrimination
- Intersectionality refers to the combined effects of race, class, and gender in creating multiple layers of inequality, creating a "matrix of domination."
- Prejudice represents negative attitudes towards entire groups, while stereotypes embody rigid beliefs about groups.
- Discrimination is the active exclusion from rights and opportunities based on group membership.
Racism and Its Forms
- Ideological racism justifies the inferior status of certain groups through cultural beliefs.
- Discrimination can occur at the individual or institutional level, with institutional discrimination embedded in societal operations.
- Modern racism is a subtle form of racism that avoids direct references to race while perpetuating inequality.
Social Change and Group Dynamics
- Assimilation involves merging distinct groups into a common culture.
- Pluralism allows groups to maintain their identities and cultural differences within society.
- Park's Race Relations Cycle illustrates phases of intergroup relations, starting with conflict and moving towards assimilation.
Key Social Concepts
- Primary groups are characterized by deep emotional ties and strong commitments, while secondary groups are larger and more impersonal.
- Human Capital Theory emphasizes individual characteristics like education in achieving success.
- Status Attainment Theory connects affluence and prestige primarily to education rather than family background.
Immigration Patterns and Cultural Dynamics
- Old Immigration refers to the first wave from Northern and Western Europe, while New Immigration refers to the later influx from Southern and Eastern Europe.
- Ethnic enclaves maintain cultural distinctions despite surrounding influences.
- The Principle of Third-Generation Interest suggests that the third generation of immigrants seeks to reconnect with traditions overlooked by the previous generation.
Structural Considerations and Historical Context
- The National Origins Act of 1924 established a quota system favoring Northern and Western Europe, reflecting systemic racism.
- The concept of symbolic ethnicity highlights the occasional salience of ethnic identity in everyday life.
Societal Structures and Ideologies
- Patriarchy denotes male dominance within families and public institutions.
- Cultural pluralism exists when groups retain identities without acculturation, while structural pluralism involves acculturation without full integration into society.
- Revolutions indicate efforts by minority groups to seek power parity with dominant groups, aiming to create new social order.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of key concepts in Sociology, including minority groups and inequality. This quiz covers essential terms and definitions that are crucial for understanding social structures and dynamics. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their learning in Sociology.