Sociology Chapter 10 Flashcards

Racial and Ethnic Groups

• Racial group: Defined by obvious physical differences, distinguishing members from others.
• Ethnic group: Identified by national origin or unique cultural patterns.
• Minority group: Subordinate group with limited power and control over their lives.

Stereotypes and Prejudice

• Color line: Refers to racial segregation that persisted post-slavery.
• Stereotype: Overgeneralized beliefs about a group, neglecting individual differences.
• Prejudice: Hostile attitude directed toward an entire group.
• Ethnocentrism: Belief in the superiority of one's own culture.

Discrimination and Violence

• Racism: Belief in racial superiority and inferiority.
• Discrimination: Denial of rights and opportunities based on arbitrary biases.
• Genocide: Intentional destruction of a group, exemplified by the Holocaust.
• Expulsion: Forcible removal of a group, representing extreme prejudice.

Social Dynamics and Assimilation

• Amalgamation: Creation of a new group through the blending of majority and minority groups.
• Assimilation: Process where individuals adopt the cultural norms of a dominant group, potentially erasing personal identity.
• Segregation: Physical and social separation of groups, often imposed by the dominant group.
• Pluralism: Mutual respect for diverse cultures within a society, striving for coexistence.

Characteristics and Historical Context

• Minority groups possess properties such as unequal treatment and distinguishing traits, with membership often involuntary.
• W.E.B. Du Bois emphasized the importance of knowledge in fighting prejudice and predicted "the color line" as a central issue of the 20th century.
• The African American population has remained statistically stable over recent decades.

Prominent Figures

• Sonia Sotomayor: U.S. Supreme Court Justice since 2009, notable for her judicial contributions.
• Manning Nash: Identified three functions of racial prejudice to maintain social order and justify inequality.
• Arnold Rose: Highlighted four dysfunctions arising from racism, affecting social resources and international relations.

Theoretical Perspectives

• Exploitation Theory: Part of Conflict Theory, suggests racism keeps minorities in low wages, benefiting the dominant group.
• Contact Hypothesis: Within Interactionist Perspective, asserts equal-status contact reduces prejudice and stereotypes.

Historical Events and Statistics

• Example of amalgamation seen in the mixing of Spaniards and Native Indians in Mexico.
• Switzerland exemplifies a pluralistic state, lacking a national language and dominant religion.
• Internment of Japanese Americans: Forced relocation of 113,000 individuals during WWII.
• Diversity: Asian Americans represent the most racially diverse group in the U.S.
• Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Legislation that halted Chinese immigration.
• Largest U.S. minority group: Hispanic, with Mexican Americans comprising the largest Latino demographic, followed by Puerto Ricans.

Test your knowledge of key concepts from Sociology Chapter 10. This quiz covers important definitions related to racial and ethnic groups, minority groups, and the color line. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of these sociological terms.