Sociology 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is a minority group?

Members of the group experience a pattern of advantage or equality.

Members of the group tend to marry within the group. (correct)

Members of the group are determined by their social status.

Members of the group share a visible trait that differentiates them. (correct)

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?

It adversely affects access. Signup and view all the answers

What defines race?

Differences in human physical characteristics used to categorize individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is ethnicity?

Cultural practices and outlooks of a given community. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the characteristics of ethnic groups. (Select all that apply)

Sense of community Signup and view all the answers

What is racial formation?

A social, historical process by which racial categories are created, blocked, transformed, and destroyed. Signup and view all the answers

Who argued that the most important source of inequality is economic production?

Karl Marx Signup and view all the answers

What did Max Weber believe about stratification?

He believed in a multidimensional approach involving wealth, prestige, and power. Signup and view all the answers

What does intersectionality or intersection theory emphasize?

The interplay of race, class, and gender resulting in multiple dimensions of inequality. Signup and view all the answers

What is prejudice?

A negative attitude toward an entire group of people. Signup and view all the answers

What are stereotypes?

Rigid or exaggerated beliefs applied to an entire category of people. Signup and view all the answers

What is discrimination?

Behavior that excludes members of a group from certain rights or opportunities. Signup and view all the answers

What is ideological racism?

Sets of ideas that assert the inferiority of a particular group. Signup and view all the answers

What is institutional discrimination?

Patterns of unequal treatment built into institutions. Signup and view all the answers

What does modern racism mean?

Racism without reference to race, expressed subtly. Signup and view all the answers

What is white privilege?

The understood standard against which other racial groups are measured. Signup and view all the answers

What does assimilation mean?

A process where separate groups come to share a common culture. Signup and view all the answers

What is the melting pot concept?

Different groups come together to create a new, unique society. Signup and view all the answers

What was established by the National Origins Act of 1924?

A quota system for immigration. Signup and view all the answers

What is symbolic ethnicity?

An ethnic identity relevant only on specific occasions. 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.

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.

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.

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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.