Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

Race as a Biological Construct

• The term "race" originated from grouping populations by their differences in biological measures, such as skin pigmentation and morphology.
• Diverse categories of people were classified into races based on these physical characteristics.

Race as a Social Construct

• Ethnicity refers to one's sociocultural heritage, based on commonalities such as collective history, religion, nationality, regional origin, language, and others.

Ethnic Identity

• Ethnic identity is the extent to which one identifies with a particular ethnic group.
• Components of ethnic identity include:
  • Ethnic awareness: understanding of one's own and other groups.
  • Ethnic self-identification: label used for one's own group.
  • Ethnic attitudes: feelings about one's own and other groups.
  • Ethnic behaviors: patterns specific to an ethnic group.

Phinney's Ethnic Identity Development Model

• The model consists of five stages:
  • Diffusion: lacking a clear sense of ethnic identity.
  • Foreclosure: adopting a ready-made identity without exploration.
  • Moratorium: actively searching for an identity.
  • Achievement: achieving a clear sense of ethnic identity.
  • Search: questioning and exploring one's identity.

Oppression

• Oppression is the unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power, involving asymmetric power relationships between individuals, groups, communities, and societies.
• To be oppressed is to be unjustly denied the opportunity of resilient autonomy or self-determination.

Stereotypes

• A stereotype is a broad, often oversimplified assumption made about all members of a particular group.
• Even seemingly positive stereotypes can be harmful.

Prejudice and Discrimination

• Prejudice: an unjustified attitude towards a group or individual.
• Discrimination: behavior that treats individuals unfairly based on their group membership.
• Oppression = Stereotyping + Prejudice + Discrimination.

Types of Oppression

• Racism: the belief that one race is superior to others.
• Ethnocentrism: the belief that one ethnic group is superior to others.
• Classism: prejudice and discrimination based on socioeconomic levels or social class.
• Sexism: prejudice and discrimination based on gender.
• Ableism: negative judgment about the characteristics and capabilities of an individual with a disability.

Privilege

• Privilege: a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.
• Privilege is an unearned access to power and resources based on membership in a dominant social group.

Check Your Privilege

• Privilege is not a burden, but an opportunity to learn and be responsible for working towards a more just and inclusive world.
• Groups that are systematically advantaged and others that are disadvantaged because of their memberships in certain groups.

Explore how race and ethnicity are perceived and classified, from biological to social constructs.