Ethnic Groups and Racism Essay

I. INTRODUCTIONRace and hea henceishity ar authorized concepts in the field of sociology and are ones that are studied a slap-up deal. Race plays a large role in e genuinelyday charitable interactions and sociologists want to study how, why, and what the outcomes are of these interactions. A rush along is a homosexual population that is believed to be explicit in virtually way from rising(prenominal) hu human beingsness ground on real or imagined corporeal differences. racial classifications are rooted in the idea of biological classification of humans according to morphological features much(prenominal) as skin color or facial characteristics. An individual is prevalently outwardly classified (meaning someone else makes the classification) into a racial radical rather than the individual choosing where they belong as lot of their identity.Conceptions of step on it, as well as specific racial sortingings, are much controversial due to their impact on favorable identity and how those identities deflect someones assign in friendly hierarchies. Ethnicity, while related to look sharp, nurtures non to physical characteristics except social traits that are shared by a human population. Some of the social traits ofttimes used for heathen classification take on home(a)itytribereligious faithshared wordingshared goalshared traditionsUnlike race, heathenity is not usually externally assigned by different individuals. The term culturalality focuses to a greater extent upon a free radicalings connection to a sensed shared past and culture.II. limit/ CREATIVE REPORTDEFINITION OF RACE AND ETHNICITYRace is a socially defined category, based on real or perceived biological differences mingled with concourses of lot. Ethnicity is a socially defined category based on everyday language, religion, nationality, history or another heathenish factor. Sociologists see race and ethnicality as social constructions because they are not roo ted in biological differences, they change over time, and they never guide firm boundaries.Example colourThe distinction in the midst of race and ethnicity can be displayed or hidden, depending on individual preferences, while racial identities are perpetually on display.THE sociological MEANING OF ETHNIC GROUPS AND RACISMThe classification of people into races and ethnic conventions carries cloudy implication on the social and political life of diametric racial and ethnic sort outs. These classifications led to the notion of racial premiumity and racial mildlyity, paganly advanced groups and culturally disadvantaged, the use of derogatory undertones and parody, apartheid policy, difference and wrong, and stereotyping of groups of people. Ethnic conflicts bemuse been regular do within the same territorial reserve borders and among the nations of the world. Ethnic conflicts live with been pervasive and dangerous because they cause massive humanitarian engendering, c ivil wars, and destabilizing effects.Sociologically, race refers to a group of people whom others believe are contagiousally distinct and whom they treat accordingly. This term is super Cly used to refer to physical differences between people brought about by physical characteristics of genetic origin. This commonalityness of genetic heritage whitethorn be manifested in the var. of the head and face, the shape and color of the eyes, the shape of the nose, lips, and ears, the texture and color of the hair, the skin color, height, blood case and other physical characteristics. Among the significant racial categories studied by primal social scientists were the Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid, and the subgroups of primary and derived races. Racial differences are seen as physical differences singled out by the confederation or ordination as ethnically significant.It is preferred to refer to ethnicity or ethnic groups rather than race for its historical and biological connotations . An ethnic group represents a number of persons who extradite a common cultural background as evidenced by a persuasion of loyalty to a given geographical territory or leader, a feeling of identification with and unity among historical and other group experiences, or a high degree of similarity in social norms, ideas and existent objects. Members of ethnic groups see themselves as culturally different from other groups in the society and are viewed by others to be so. SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF MEMBERSHIP IN RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS Membership in racial and ethnic groups influences peoples social status and roles as they interact with others. Physical characteristics, oddly skin color and veritable distinctive cultural traits, complexes, and patterns, give-up the ghost badges for social and economic status.Frequently, they establish a persons or groups position in the social stratification system and make up the al-Qaida for impairment, discrimination, and other forms of diffe rential treatment. Furthermore, when an ethnic group fathers a target of discrimination, such group whitethorn utilize the strange physical or cultural traits as the rallying force for promoting common loyalties and enhancing collective action. When peoples definition of physical characteristics greatly affects their analogyship, such definitions generally become interlinked with cultural differences. A classic example is the white mans excuse of his technological, economic, political and military superiority. Examples are such ideologies as the God-chosen race, the white mans burden and more recently, the apartheid policy.Since the early days of the united States, native-born Americans, African-Americans and European-Americans were classified as belonging to different races. But the criteria for social status in these races were radically different. For Africans, the government canvassed anyone with African appearance to be purely African. inbred Americans, on the other k ick the bucket, were classified based on a certain percentage of Indian blood. Finally, European-Americans had to have purely white ancestry. The differing criteria for assigning membership to particular races had relatively little to do with biology it had far more to do with maintaining a groups defined roles and position.Racial and ethnic membership leads to a sniff out of people-hood. By this, we mean a sense of identification with a relatively small segment of the worlds population- those who by virtue of common ancestry or heritage we con human facer our own kind.Erich Fromm wrote in 1941The identity with nature, clan, religion, gives the individual security. He belongs to, he is rooted in, morphologicalized whole in which he has an unquestionable place. He may suffer from hunger or suppression, scarcely he does not suffer from worst of all pains- complete aloneness and doubt.PATTERNS OF ETHNIC GROUP dealingPeople who occupy a surmount status are usually called a minori ty group. What determines a minority group is not the unique racial or ethnics traits nor their great number but the relationship of different groups in the society of which they are a part. A minority group, then is one that, because of the power of differences among the groups, is singled out for unequal treatment in the society. A minority refers to a group which, because of physical and cultural characteristics, occupies a subordinate position in the society and subjected to collective discrimination, in some cases, sluice segregation, oppression, slavery, peonage, military subjugation, religious persecution, and economic, political, educational, and social suppression. The patterns of ethnic group relations embarrass the side by side(p)1. Patterns of Racisma. Prejudice and discriminationRacism is behavior that is do by the belief that ones own group is superior to other groups that are set apart on the tush of physical characteristics Structural racism refers to inequalit ies built into an organization or system. An example of morphological racism can be seen in recent research on workplace discrimination.37 on that point is widespread discrimination against job applicants whose names were still perceived as sounding black.These applicants were 50% less likely than candidates perceived as having white-sounding names to receive callbacks for interviews, no matter their level of earlier experience. Prejudice prejudged negative attitude or opinion about a group without twoering toverify the merits of the opinion or judgment The relationship between prejudice and discrimination is complex. Robert Mertons study and typology of the relationship between prejudice and discriminationFour patterns1. Unprejudiced nondiscriminatory integration2. Unprejudiced and discriminatory institutional discrimination3. Prejudiced and nondiscriminatory latent bigotry4. Prejudiced and discriminatory instantly bigotryIn his study, (1974), Bulatao listed impressions on some ethnic groups by respondents from pentad Philippine cities Ilocanos and Chinese were viewed as most industrious, serious, thrifty Tagalogs, progressive Bicolanos and Cebuanos, humble, friendly, warm, and dovish Warays, lazy but strong and Ilongos, proud and extravagant.b. Discrimination refers to the act of incapacitating or mistreating people on the basis of their group membership or on ascriptive rounds rationally irrelevant to the situation. Whereas prejudice is a state of mind, discrimination is actual behavior. Prejudice and discrimination work hand in hand to create and sustain racial and ethnic stratification, (Jarry J. 1987)THEORIES OF PREJUDICELight gives the following explanations on the origin of prejudice 1. frugal Theory- assumes that racial prejudice is a social attitude transmitted by the dominant ethnic volume class for the purpose of stigmatizing some group s as inferior so that the exploitation of the group resources will be justified. 2. Symbolic Theo ry- asserts that prejudice arises because a racial or ethnic group is a figure of what people hate, fear, or envy. 3. Scapegoat theory- maintains that human beings are reluctant to occupy their mistakes for their troubles and failures so they look for an ethnic-minority to shoulder the blame. 4. Social norm theory- asserts that ethnocentrism is a innate development of group living. Hatred and suspicion for the out-group are the standard and normal way of doing things, particularly in dealing with people.c. Stereotypes are often alter and unsupported generalizations about others and are used indiscriminately for all cases. A few examples are Ilokano, bantay kuako (heavy smokers) and kuripot (stingy) Pampangueno, dugong aso (dog blood or traitors) Batangueno, balisong (knife-wielding) Bicolanos, sili ( pepper or hot people). 2. Patterns of Competition, Conflict and DominationWhen ethnocentric attitudes are coupled with intergroup argument for territory and scarce resources, an ex plosive social situation may arise. When dickens groups both strive for the same things- and they perceive their respective claims to be reciprocally exclusively and legitimate- the stage is set for conflict. In modern societies, the state has become the vehicle that enables one group to dominate and keep the other group subordinate. In sum, competition supplies the motivation for systems of stratification, and ethnocentrism directs competition along racial and ethnic lines, but power determines which group will subjugate the other (Noel, 1972 Barth and Noel, 1975).3. Economic and Political SubjugationThe economic takeover of one nation by a more sizable one and the subsequent political and social domination of the native population is called colonialism. If the takeover of one nation is till the military superiority of the more powerful one for the purpose of territorial expansion and establishing colonies, it is termed as military colonialism. On the other hand, if the economi c takeover is made through the great technological superiority of the more powerful one, the institutionalization of their businesses in their former colonies, the control and domination of most of a habituations natural resources, the imposition of trade policies and economic treaties favorable to their side the establishment of outlets for their surplus capital the need for more cheap labor, dim materials, and markets to fuel their growing economy, the process is termed neo-colonialism or economic imperialism.4. Displacement and segregation of the Native PopulationEconomic and political subjugation of a minority population by a more powerful group is not the only pattern of conquest that occurs whendifferent racial and ethnic group meet.Displacement of native population can be made assertable through the influx of powerful settlers or invaders with their vastly superior weapons. It is typically lay down in areas rich in natural resources and similar in geography and climate t o the homeland of the invading group. Displacement takes the following forms a.) by attrition, that is, numbers of the weaker group may die of starvation or affection either deliberately or not b.) by population sell and c.) by genocide- deliberate and ruthless extermination of the weaker group.separatism involves the enactment of laws and/or customs that restrict or prohibit contact between groups. Segregation may be ethnic or racial or based on sex or age.5. Patterns of Accommodation and ToleranceInterracial and interethnic alteration can be carried out through miscegenation or amalgamation- the inmarriage of members of the volume and minority groups. This can result in the blending of their sundry(a) customs and values and the creation of a new cultural hybrid. This involves a cultural and biological blending in which the customs and values of both groups are to some extent preserved and their biological characteristics appear in the offspring.6. Patterns of Acculturation a nd AssimilationAcculturation and assimilation are two very important concepts in sociology and anthropology that describe cross cultural effects on both minorities as well as studyities in societies that are multi ethnic and multi cultural in nature. Assimilation is a broader concept as describe by sociologist Jean Piaget and refers to the manner in which people take new information. There are many people who think of the two concepts as same and even use them interchangeably. If you belong to a minority fraternity in a country and retain your own culture but cannot remain isolated and are affected by the majority culture in such a way that you adapt to some aspects of the majority culture, the process is referred to as acculturation.Assimilation is a process whereby people of a culture learn to adapt to the ways of the majority culture. There is a loss of ones own culture as aperson gives more value to the cultural aspects of the majority community in the process of assimilation. What is the difference between Acculturation and Assimilation? Meeting of cultures always produces results in terms of changes in both the cultures, and acculturation and assimilation refer to two important and different changes in these cultures. Assimilation refers to the process where some of the majority communitys cultural aspects are absorbed in such a manner that the home cultural aspects get palliate or lost. Acculturation is a process where the cultural aspects of the majority community are adapted without losing the traditions and customs of the minority community. Minority culture changes in the case of assimilation whereas it remains intact in the case of acculturation.7. Patterns of cultural Pluralism or Ethnic DiversityCultural pluralism refers to the coexistence of different racial or ethnic groups from each one of which retains its own cultural identity and social structural networks, while participating equally in the economic and political systems. (Light, 198 5) In pluralistic society, each group retains its own language, religion and customs, and its members tend to interact socially primarily among themselves. Yet all jointly participate in the economic and political systems and live in harmony and peaceful coexistence. A prime example of such an arrangement can be found in Switzerland. There, people of German, French, and Italian heritage preserve their distinct cultural ways while coexisting peacefully and equally. No one group enjoys special privileges or is discriminated against.ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE PHILIPPINESEthnic groups in the Philippines are classified according to certain physical, cultural, linguistic, religious and geographic criteria.A. accord to distinctive physical traits1. The Negritoes who are regarded as the aborigines of the Philippines.2. The Indonesian- Malayan stock which is predominant among the Filipinos.3. The Chinese who make up the largest national group.4. The Americans and the Spaniards, and a few other Eu ropeans who came ascolonizers.B. According to cultural standpoints1. Cultural minorities or cultural communities2. Muslims3. Christian groupsC. According to linguistic groupingsPANAMIN reports that there are about 87 ethno linguistic groups in the Philippines-e.g., Tagalog, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Ilonggo, etc. D. According to religion1. Roman Catholics2. Muslims3. Aglipayans4. Protestants5. Iglesia ni Cristo6. Buddhists7. Jehovahs witnesses8. Other religious sects.E. Muslims of Southern PhilippinesThe Muslims make up the largest single non-Christian group. They have nine ethno-linguistic groups, namely1. Taosug2. Maranao3. Maguindanao4. Samal5. Yakan6. Sanggil7. Badjao8. Molbog9. Jama MapunFrom the Spanish regime to the present, Muslim and Christian intergrouprelationships have been characterized by animosity and suspicion. This has been expressed in the Muslims ongoing resentment of Christian settlers and attempts at secession to form an independent Mindanao. Musl im revolutionary groups the Moro theme Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Bangsai Moro Liberation Front (BMLF) want Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan to secede from the Philippines.THE heathen COMMUNITIES AND THE CHRISTIAN FILIPINOSThe non-Christian Filipinos now known as cultural communities make up 10% of the total national population. They have maintained their culture in their clothes, art, religion, ethnic dialect, customs, traditions and other superficial differences. There are 77 major ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines.III. GROUP REFLECTIONWithin sociology, the terms race, ethnicity, minority, and dominant group all have very specific and different meanings. To understand the sociological perspective on race and ethnicity, it is important to understand the meanings of these concepts. An ethnic group is a social category of people who share a common culture, such as a common language, a common religion, or common norms, customs, practices, and history. Ethnic groups have a co nsciousness of their common cultural bond. An ethnic group does not exist simply because of the common national or cultural origins of the group, however. They develop because of their unique historical and social experiences, which become the basis for the groups ethnic identity. For example, prior to immigration to the United States, Italians did not think of themselves as a distinct group with common interests and experiences. However, the process of immigration and the experiences they faced as a group in the United States, including discrimination, created a new identity for the group.Some examples of ethnic groups include Italian Americans, Polish Americans, Mexican Americans, Arab Americans, and Irish Americans. Ethnic groups are similarly found in other societies, such as the Pashtuns in Afghanistan or the Shiites in Iraq, whose ethnicity is base on religious differences. Like ethnicity, race is primarily, though not exclusively, a socially constructed category. A race is a group that is treated as distinct in society based on certain characteristics. Because of their biological or cultural characteristics, which are labeled as inferior by powerful groups in society, a race is often singled out for differential and unfair treatment. It is not the biological characteristics that define racial groups, but how groups have been treated historically and socially. Society assigns people to racial categories (White, Black, etc.) not because of science or fact, but because of opinion and social experience.In otherwords, how racial groups are defined is a social process it is socially constructed. A minority group is any distinct group in society that shares common group characteristics and is forced to occupy low status in society because of prejudice and discrimination. A group may be classified as a minority on the basis of ethnicity, race, sexual preference, age, or class status. It is important to note that a minority group is not necessarily the minority in terms of numbers, but it is a group that holds low status in relation to other groups in society (regardless of the size). The group that assigns a racial or ethnic group to subordinate status in society is called the dominant group. There are several sociological theories about why prejudice, discrimination, and racism exist. flow rate sociological theories focus mainly on explaining the existence of racism, particular institutional racism.The three major sociological perspectives (functionalist theory, symbolic interaction theory, and conflict theory) each have their own explanations to the existence of racism. Functionalist theorists argue that in order for race and ethnic relations to be functional and contribute to the harmonious manoeuvre and stability of society, racial and ethnic minorities must assimilate into that society. Assimilation is a process in which a minority becomes absorbed into the dominant society socially, economically, and culturally. Symbolic interac tion theorists look at two issues in relation to race and ethnicity.First, they look at the role of social interaction and how it reduces racial and ethnic hostility. Second, they look at how race and ethnicity are socially constructed. In essence, symbolic interactionists ask the question, What happens when two people of different race or ethnicity come in contact with one another and how can such interracial or interethnic contact reduce hostility and conflict? The canonical argument made by conflict theorists is that class-based conflict is an inherent and constitutional part of society. These theorists thus argue that racial and ethnic conflict is laced to class conflict and that in order to reduce racial and ethnic conflict, class conflict must first be reduced.