Race and Ethnicity Chapter 7 Outline PDF

RACE and ETHNICITY CHAPTER 7  Defining Race and Ethnicity A Sociological Definition of Race Race Category of people who are singled out on the basis of physical characteristics a social construct used to distinguish people in terms of one or more physical markers...

RACE and ETHNICITY CHAPTER 7  Defining Race and Ethnicity A Sociological Definition of Race Race Category of people who are singled out on the basis of physical characteristics a social construct used to distinguish people in terms of one or more physical markers is a simplistic identification usually with profound effects on their lives. Defining Race and Ethnicity Race is to biology Race– A socially defined category of people whose perceived physical markers are significant. As ethnicity is to culture Ethnic Group – Comprised of people whose perceived cultural markers are socially significant. Ethnicity Distinctiveness of a group based on cultural features and by which they regard themselves and are regarded as a cultural unit Cultural features: language, religion, food, music, dress Features then seen as ‘belonging’ to a certain group: Jewish, Polish, Scandinavian How do we ‘see’ Race and Ethnicity? e.g. language – terms used for different groups (reveals their ‘position’) e.g. media – can consider representation of different groups in the media What kinds of ‘differences’ are set up or normalized? How is difference represented?  Racialization: assumption of worth or ability based on race or ethnicity Positive: social identity, group connection Negative: legal and social power differentials Positive Consequences “[Racialization] is an important business – money and opportunity can hinge on one’s ability to define oneself as a member of a particular racial group. In most settings, you might have more opportunities if you are perceived as ‘white’. In others, especially when affirmative action laws are applied, it might be to your advantage to claim membership in a particular ethnic group. For example, as Native Americans have found ways to market gambling casinos because of the special federal status of reservations, some people have worked very hard to establish their North American roots so that they can share in the profits.” source: Identity Matters Disadvantages / Negative Consequences Prejudice: negative attitudes based on preconceived ideas about the members of certain groups An attitude that judges a person on his or her group’s real or imagined characteristics. Discrimination: Actions or practices of the dominant group that have a harmful impact on subordinate groups Unfair treatment of people because of their group membership. Racism: an organized set of beliefs about the innate inferiority of some racial groups, combined with practices that deny equality of treatment on the basis of race The Vicious Circle of Racism Jackson Katz: “When we hear the term “race”. We tend to think “African American, Latino, Asian American, Native American… as if white people don’t belong to some racial grouping…” (from the film Tough Guise) “Most white people living in North America are, for all intents and purposes, invisible. That invisibility affords a safety net that is easily taken for granted. In the 1960s, I—a white male—became visible for a time because of my long hair. With this new status (the counter-cultural hippie) I took a few baby steps down the long path of unmasked prejudice. Police, folks, from small towns… all made me highly aware of my visibility, causing me to feel vulnerable to the emotions of others…” “It can be said, generally, that being invisible means having the freedom to act in a given situation. If you are visible in social situations – in terms of gender, ethnicity, or age, for example, how much freedom do you have? … What would it be like to stand out?” (Steckley and Letts, p. 199)  Defining Race and Ethnicity Resources and Opportunities Determining the economic success of an ethnic or racial group: 1. Resources people possess Literacy, education, urbanity, financial assets 2. Economic Opportunities open to them Defining Race and Ethnicity Resources and Opportunities Mid-twentieth-century Canada A vertical mosaic (John Porter) A highly ethnically and racially stratified society. The retention of ethnic and racial culture was a big problem in Canada because it hampered the upward mobility of immigrants. Defining Race and Ethnicity Resources and Opportunities 1970s The Canadian economy was growing rapidly. Many ethnic and racial minority group members were economically successful. Ethnic and racial diversity increased in ‘status’ professions. Visible minority status generally had little impact on educational, occupational, and income attainment in Canada. 1990s and 2000s Visible minority group immigrants were significantly less successful economically. Canada’s high unemployment rate combined with Credentials of highly educated immigrants were often not recognized by employers. Symbolic Interactionism, Race, and Ethnic Relations Labels and Identity Why do social definitions of race and ethnicity change? The development of racial and ethnic labels, and ethnic and racial identities, is typically a process of negotiation. This negotiation eventually results in a new ethnic identity. If the social context changes, the negotiation process starts again. Symbolic Interactionism, Race, and Ethnic Relations Choice versus Imposition Canadians with the most freedom to choose their ethnic identity: Whites whose ancestors arrived in Canada more than two generations ago Symbolic ethnicity “A nostalgic allegiance to the culture of the immigrant generation, or that of the old country, that is not usually incorporated in everyday behaviour.” (Herbert Gans, 1991) Symbolic Interactionism, Race, and Ethnic Relations Choice versus Imposition Racism The belief that a visible characteristic of a group, such as skin colour, indicates group inferiority and justifies discrimination. Institutional or Systemic racism Bias that is inherent in social institutions and is often not noticed by members of the majority group.  Canadian History and Systemic Racism Chinese Canadians: mid-1800s: work on roads, railroad Chinese immigrants weren’t allowed to vote, hold public office or join unions 1885: limits to Chinese immigration set 1887: head tax ($50) raised ($500; 2 years of wages) Made it difficult to marry a Chinese woman Chinese bachelors seen as threat Laws prevented employment of white women by Asians Japanese Canadians: 1919 reducing licenses for Japanese fishers 1907 the Asiatic Exclusion League formed (efforts to exclude Asians entry) WWII, 23 000 Japanese were interned (13 000 were Canadian born) in remote locations; their property was seized and they were forced to labour in harsh conditions Not until 2000 was an apology issued and compensation offered ($20 000 each) Conflict Theories of Race and Ethnic Relations Colonialism and Internal Colonialism Colonialism Involves people from one country invading and taking political, cultural, and economic control over people from another country. Internal colonialism Involves one race or ethnic group subjugating another in the same country. It prevents assimilation by segregating the subordinate group in terms of jobs, housing, and social contacts. Conflict Theories of Race and Ethnic Relations Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples The word that most aptly describes the treatment of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples by European immigrants is expulsion: the forcible removal of a population from a territory claimed by another population. Genocide The intentional extermination of an entire population defined as a race or a people. Systemic Racism and Aboriginal Canadians: “internal colonization”: 1763: Royal Proclamation of Indian Territory 1867: Constitution Act (gov’t power over land) 1876: Indian act (gov’t power over Indian life) No owning land / voting / drinking Needed permission to leave reserves Highest rate of infant Residential Schools church-run, government-funded residential schools Aim: assimilation Unintended Consequence : abuse + loss of culture A History of Residential Schools in Canada CBC, May 16, 2008 What is a residential school? In the 19th century, the Canadian government believed it was responsible for educating and caring for the country's aboriginal people. It thought their best chance for success was to learn English and adopt Christianity and Canadian customs. Ideally, they would pass their adopted lifestyle on to their children, and native traditions would diminish, or be completely abolished in a few generations. The Canadian government developed a policy called "aggressive assimilation" to be taught at church-run, government-funded industrial schools, later called residential schools. The government felt children were easier to mould than adults, and the concept of a boarding school was the best way to prepare them for life in mainstream society. Residential schools were federally run, under the Department of Indian Affairs. Attendance was mandatory. Agents were employed by the government to ensure all native children attended. How many residential schools and students were there? Initially, about 1,100 students attended 69 schools across the country. In 1931, at the peak of the residential school system, there were about 80 schools operating in Canada. There were a total of about 130 schools in every territory and province except Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick from the earliest in the 19th century to the last, which closed in 1996. In all, about 150,000 aboriginal, Inuit and Métis children were removed from their communities and forced to attend the schools. What went wrong? Residential schools were established with the assumption that aboriginal culture was unable to adapt to a rapidly modernizing society. It was believed that native children could be successful if they assimilated into mainstream Canadian society by adopting Christianity and speaking English or French. Students were discouraged from speaking their first language or practising native traditions. If they were caught, they would experience severe punishment. Throughout the years, students lived in substandard conditions and endured physical and emotional abuse. There are also many allegations of sexual abuse. Students at residential schools rarely had opportunities to see examples of normal family life. They were in school 10 months a year, away from their parents. All correspondence from the children was written in English, which many parents couldn't read. Brothers and sisters at the same school rarely saw each other, as all activities were segregated by gender. When students returned to the reserve, they often found they didn't belong. They didn't have the skills to help their parents, and became ashamed of their native heritage. The skills taught at the schools were generally substandard; many found it hard to function in an urban setting. The aims of assimilation meant devastation for those who were subjected to years of mistreatment. Victim compensation …Over the years, the government worked with the Anglican, Catholic, United and Presbyterian churches, which ran residential schools, to design a plan to compensate the former students. In 2007, two years after it was first announced, the federal government formalized a $1.9-billion compensation package for those who were forced to attend residential schools. Recognizing the Larger Context (move from ‘Personal Troubles’ to ‘Public Issues’) The May 2014 RCMP Report Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: 1980-2012: 1181 Indigenous women murdered (16% of National number) 1984: 8% of victims 2012: 23% of victims 2014: 164 Indigenous women ‘missing’ (11% of National number) RCMP: “the root causes of the violence include the legacy of Indigenous children being removed from their families and placed in residential schools, persistent poverty and poor housing conditions, and widespread racism” Source: Robert Brym, New Society, p. 197 Conflict Theories of Race and Ethnic Relations Black Canadians Black slaves were bought and sold in Canada at least until the 1820s. Slavery The ownership and control of people. Slavery became illegal in 1833 with the British government’s ban on slavery throughout the British Empire. Conflict Theories of Race and Ethnic Relations Black Canadians After the American Civil War (1861–65), the Canadian government reversed its practice of allowing black settlement. – Policy required rejecting most of the immigration applications by black people. Until the mid-twentieth century, blacks tended to do unskilled labour / be residentially and socially segregated. E.g. Africville https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/africville-is-an-eyesore Conflict Theories of Race and Ethnic Relations Split Labour Market Exists where low-wage workers of one race and high-wage workers of another race compete for the same jobs. High-wage workers are likely to resent the presence of low-wage competitors. Conflict is bound to result and racist attitudes to develop or become reinforced. Split Labour Markets and Asian Canadians Chinese immigrants: Not welcome anymore http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/chinese-immigration-not-welcome-anymore Some Advantages of Ethnicity Continued ethnic group membership: 1. Can have economic advantages. 2. Can be politically useful. 3. Tends to persist because of the emotional support it provides. Transnational communities Communities whose boundaries extend between or among countries. This is typical of most recent immigrant communities in North America as a result of inexpensive international travel international communication The Future of Race and Ethnicity in Canada Pluralism The retention of racial and ethnic culture combined with equal access to basic social resources. Two hundred years ago – Canada was a society based on expulsion, conquest, slavery, and segregation. Today – Canada is a society based on segregation, pluralism, and assimilation. The Future of Race and Ethnicity in Canada Growing tolerance does not imply the absence of ethnic and racial discrimination and stratification – serious problems remain. – Most Aboriginal Canadians remain clustered at the bottom of Canada’s socioeconomic hierarchy. – Upward mobility of immigrants, three- quarters of whom are members of visible- minority groups, has slowed since the early 1990s. Race: The Power of an Illusion Considering the social, political and economic consequences of racial and ethnic inequality in the U.S The longer ‘legacy’ of systemic racism (often forgotten, so lack of wealth turned back into ‘personal trouble’)