Chapter 9

Question 1

why do people continue to think of race as a biological category?

Answer 1

the idea has been reified

Question 2

what is reification?

Answer 2

when an inaccurate concept is so heavily promoted that it seems to be an unquestioned truth

Question 3

when did reification of race as a biological concept begin, and with who?

Answer 3

in 1700s with Linnaeus

Question 4

how did Linnaeus classify human race?

Answer 4

Americanus, Europaeus, Asiaticus, and Africanus

Question 5

how did Blumenbach classify human race?

Answer 5

Caucasian, Mongolian, Ethiopian, American, and Malayan

Question 6

what are the types of race classifiers?

Answer 6

lumpers and splitters

Question 7

what are lumpers?

Answer 7

classify races by large geographic tracts and produce small number of broad, general racial categories

Question 8

what are splitters?

Answer 8

classify races by localized regional races to determine more precise racial labels

Question 9

what are cline?

Answer 9

differences in the traits that occur in populations across a geographical area

Question 10

why can’t skin colour determine race?

Answer 10

average range of skin colour gradually changes over geographic space

Question 11

how does Vitamin D relate to skin colour?

Answer 11

less vitamin D = lighter skin

Question 12

what does it mean to say that variations in human physical and genetic traits are non concordant?

Answer 12

each trait is inherited independently, not bundled together in a racial group

Question 13

where is majority of genetic diversity in humans found?

Answer 13

within people who live on the same continent

Question 14

what is racial formation?

Answer 14

how social, economic, political forces determine the content and importance of racial categories

Question 15

what was a primary contributor to the expansion of “whiteness” in the USA?

Answer 15

rise of many members of those immigrant groups (Jews and Irish) in social status after WW2

Question 16

what is hypodescent?

Answer 16

a socially constructed racial classification system where a person of mixed racial heritage is automatically categorized as a member of the less privileged group

Question 17

what is the difference in classification of race between the USA and Brazil?

Answer 17

in Brazil the nature of race is more flexible and fluid

Question 18

what is pigmentocracy?

Answer 18

a society characterized by a strong correlation between a person’s skin colour and their social class

Question 19

what is an ethnic group?

Answer 19

a distinct identity based on cultural characteristics and a shared ancestry

Question 20

what is ethnicity?

Answer 20

the degree to which a person identifies with and feels an attachment to a particular ethnic group

Question 21

what is symbolic ethnicity?

Answer 21

expressive limited displays of ethnic pride

Question 22

what is ethnogenesis?

Answer 22

gradual emergence of a new, distinct ethnic identity in response to changing social circumstances

Question 23

what is acculturation?

Answer 23

loss of a minority group’s cultural distinctiveness in relation to the dominant culture

Question 24

what is assimilation?

Answer 24

members of ethnic minority groups must abandon native traditions and adopt those of the mainstream culture

Question 25

what is multiculturalism?

Answer 25

encouraging respect of ethnic and cultural diversity as a quality that enriches society

Question 26

what is amalgamation?

Answer 26

creation of new hybrid identities as groups mix; promotes hybridization of diverse cultural groups in a multiethnic society

Question 27

what is basic belief behind multiculturalism?

Answer 27

group differences don’t spark tension and society should promote tolerance for differences

Question 28

how are assimilation and amalgamation similar?

Answer 28

a strong, unified national culture is viewed as the desired outcome

Question 29

how do assimilation and amalgamation differ?

Answer 29

amalgamation blends various groups in a society into a new hybrid identity rather than expecting the minority groups to conform to the majority