Latino Race Ethnicity and Place in the USA Essay

Race people who shargon sensible characteristics, such as scratch up color and facial features that are passed on through reproduction social construction a societal invention that labels people based on physical appearance. Skin color, hair texture, and eye shape are examples of un cope with treatment Ethnic Group a root word of people who identify with a popular national origin or cultural heritage that includes language, geographic roots, food, customs, traditions, and/or religion. Puerto Ri fecess, Chinese, Serbs, Arabs, Swedes, Hungarians, Jews Racial-Ethnic Group people who arrive distinctive physical and cultural characteristics. Immigrants Illegal immigrants do the jobs that near Americans dont want like clean homes and offices, nannies and busboys, nurses aides, and pick fruit for low wage Dominant and minority Groups Dominant Group some(prenominal) physic every(prenominal)y or cultur eachy distinctive group that has most economic and political power, the grea test privileges, and the highest social status. Men are dominant group because they produce more status, resources, and power than women. Apartheid a formal system of racial segregation Minority a group of people who may be subject to derived function and unequal treatment because of their physical, cultural, and other characteristics such as sex, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or skin color. American minorities have fewer choices than dominant group members in conclusion homes and apartments because they are less likely to get help from a bank to help with mortgage. Patterns of Dominant-Minority Group Relations Genocide the systematic effort to kill all members of a particular ethnic, religious, political, racial, or national group. Holocaust in Ger more Segregation the physical and social separation of dominant and minority groups. De Facto informal may be voluntary as when members of racial or ethnic groups prefer to live among their own group. Due to discrimi nation -De Jure Legal replaced by de facto Assimilation the process of conformist to the culture of the dominant group, adopting its language and values, and intermarrying with that group. Mexicans are less likely to assimilate in the US than immigrants from the Philippines, Vietnam or South Korea because they are more likely to have entered the country illegally which cuts them from getting a good job, most public assistance programs, and eventual citizenship Pluralism minority groups retain their culture but have equal social standing in a society. The US is pluralistic because it is multicultural, multicolored, and multilingual. Also, the US has most racial and ethnic communities (Little Italy, Greek Town, Little Korea, Spanish Harlem) live peacefully side by side Some Sources of Racial-Ethnic Friction Racism a set of beliefs that ones own racial group is naturally superior to other groups. Prejudice an attitude, positive or negative, toward people because of their membership . Different from us in race, ethnicity, or religion. Asians are really hard workers black-and-blue people cant be trusted Stereotype an oversimplified exaggerated generalization about a category of people. Can be positive only African Americans are athletic Can be negative All African Americans are lazy Ethnocentrism the belief that ones own culture, society, or group is inherently superior to others. Reject those outside of our group Scapegoats individuals or groups whom people blame for their own problems or shortcomings. They didnt hire me because the company wants blacks I didnt get into that college because Asian Americans are at the top of the list Minorities are scapegoating targets because they differ in physical appearance and too powerless to take in back. Stereotypes, ethnocentrism, and scapegoating are attitudes, but lead to discrimination. discrimination any act that treats people unequally or unfairly because of their group membership. Range from social s lights (not inviting a co worker to lunch) to rejection of job application and hate crimes. Can be subtle (not sitting next to someone) or blatant (racial slurs) Individual inconsistency harmful transaction on a one-to-one basis by a member of a dominant group against a member of a minority group. Discrimination while eating in restaurants, shopping, buying house, applying for job, etc. Institutional Discrimination unequal treatment and opportunities that members of minority groups experience as a result of the casual operations of a societys law, rules, policies, practices, and customs. Heath services minorities get lower quality care than white people even when treated by the same doctor. Relationship between Prejudice and Discrimination Robert Merton described the relationship between prejudice and discrimination as 4 patterns 1. Unprejudiced Nondiscriminators All-weather liberals They arent prejudiced and dont discriminate they believe in the American creed of freedom 2. disfavor Discriminators Active Bigots They are prejudiced and do discriminate. They are willing to break laws to express beliefs 3. Unprejudiced Discriminators Fair-weather liberals They arent prejudiced but they discriminate because its in their own self interest to do so 4.Prejudiced Nondiscrimination Timid Bigots They are prejudiced but dont discriminate. Major Racial and Ethnic Groups in the US europiuman Americans immigrants from southern and eastern Europe they viewed newcomers as dirty, lazy, and uncivilized because they differ in language, religion and customs. Latinos many Latinos who were professionals in their native land only find low-income jobs in the US. They often have a hard time to both work and learn English well enough to pass exams to become doctors, lawyers, and accountants. Many are successful though.Earn purify hourly wages because they are older, better educated, and more likely to be employed in construction than agriculture. African Americans They are successful. A third of all black households earn incomes of $50,000 or more. Asian Americans the most successful Asian Americans are those who speak English relatively well and have high tuition levels. Have higher educational levels than any other US racial-ethnic groups. Most likely to be concentrated in highly skilled occupations like instruction technology, science, engineering, and medicine. American Indians they are not immigrants, they have been in the US longer than any other group. They have made considerable economic progress by insisting on self- determination and the rights of tribes to run their own affairs. Most of them work in construction and repair, maintenance, and personal and laundry services. Middle Eastern Americans one of the most diverse and complex combinations of geographic, historical, religious, linguistic, and even racial places on Earth. Tend to be better educated and wealthier than other Americans. Well integrated into American life.Three of q uad speak only English at home or speak it well and more than half are homeowners. Sociological Explanations of Racial-Ethnic Inequality Functionalism (macro) Prejudice and Discrimination can be dysfunctional, but they provide benefits for dominant groups and stabilize society. Conflict (macro) Powerful groups maintain their advantages and perpetuate racial-ethnic inequality primarily through economic growth Primary Labor Market held primarily by white workers, provide better wages, health and pension benefits, and some measure of job security petty(a) Labor Market (fast-food employees) are largely minorities and easily paid, their wages are low, there are a few benefits and working conditions are poor. Feminist (macro and micro) Minority women suffer from the combined effects of racism and sexism. Gendered Racism the overlapping and cumulative effects of inequality due to racism and sexism. Symbolic Interactionism (micro) Hostile attitudes toward minorities, which are learn ed, can be reduced through cooperative interracial and interethnic contacts. Attitudes toward dominant and minority groups through labeling and selective perception can increase prejudice and discrimination. Contact venture the idea that more people get to know members of a minority group personally, the less likely they are to be prejudiced against that group motley and Interethnic Relationships Miscegenation marriage or sexual relations between a man and a woman of different races. The increase in intermarriage reflects many interrelated factors both macro and micro that include everyday contact and changing attitudes