Define race, ethnicity, and minority in sociological terms.

Presentation on theme: "Define race, ethnicity, and minority in sociological terms."— Presentation transcript:

1 Define race, ethnicity, and minority in sociological terms.
What are the sociological definitions of race, ethnicity, and minority?

2 Race Ethnicity Minority

3 Race and Ethnicity Defining Race Racial categories are constructed and have changed over time. Biologists use characteristics such as skin color, hair color, hair texture, facial features, head form, eye color, and height to determine race. Scientists have identified between 3 to 3,000 races. 3

4 Sociological Definition:
Race is the inherited physical characteristics that distinguish one group from another.

5 Race and Ethnicity Defining Race Along with attempting to identify races on the basis of physical features, some have said that certain characteristics were superior and others inferior. Ethnic cleansing in Rwanda, Bosnia, the Holocaust There may be more genetic difference between a tall person and a short person than between two people of different races who are the same height. The mapping of the human genome shows that humans are homogenous. 5

6 Race and Ethnicity The Myth of Race There is no scientific evidence for distinct human races or for connecting any “racial” characteristic with innate superiority or inferiority. People believe these ideas are real and they act on their beliefs. 6

7 Race and Ethnicity Ethnicity The term ethnicity comes from the Greek word ethnos, originally meaning “people” or “nation” and refers to cultural and national identity. 7

8 Race and Ethnicity Ethnic Minorities Cultural differences define ethnic minorities: language, religion, values, beliefs, norms, and customs. Ethnic minorities are separate from the larger culture either because the members of the ethnic group wish to preserve their cultural and national origins or because the majority has erected barriers that prevent the ethnic group from blending in. Negative attitudes toward ethnic minorities exist in part because of ethnocentrism. 8

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10 Race and Ethnicity Minorities A minority has distinctive physical or cultural characteristics that can be used to separate it from the majority. The minority is dominated by the majority because the majority holds an unequal share of the society’s desired goods, services, and privileges. 10

11 Race and Ethnicity Minorities Minority traits are often seen by the dominant majority to be inferior and this presumed inferiority is used to justify unequal treatment. Members of the minority have a common sense of identity and strong group loyalty. Membership in the minority group is an ascribed status applied at birth by the majority. 11

12 America should move past racial and ethnic labels.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

13 Any American who uses a hyphen to describe his or her heritage is a divided American with split loyalties. Do you agree or disagree with this statement>?

14 Any American who uses a hyphen to describe his or her heritage is a divided American with split loyalties. Do you agree or disagree with this statement>?

15 America should move past racial and ethnic labels.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?