Race and Inequality II Flashcards
(23 cards)
Race
A socially constructed category rooted in the belief that there are fundamental differences among humans, associated with phenotype and ancestry.
Racism
The belief in the supremacy of some races over others and stereotyping associated with that belief. Two main components of racism are prejudice and discrimination
Prejudice
The holding of preconceived ideas about an individual or group, ideas that are resistant to change even in the face of new information. Prejudice may be either positive or negative.
Discrimination
Behavior that denies to the members of a particular group resources or rewards that can be obtained by others.
Discrimination must be
distinguished from prejudice: Individuals who are prejudiced against
others may not engage in discriminatory practices against them;
conversely, people may act in a discriminatory fashion toward a
group even though they are not prejudiced against that group.
Stereotyping
Thinking in terms of fixed and inflexible categories, it ascribes general traits to people based on group membership
Colorblind racism
maintaining racial inequality without appearing to be racist – in many cases, this is not done intentionally, but it does have the effect of reproducing inequality
An example of this may be a belief that racism is an individual problem, not an institutional one. This example dismisses the systemic racism which is embedded in our society.
White privilege
When whites take for granted the many ways they benefit socially, politically, and economically from being white
It is the unacknowledged and unearned assets, positive and negative, that benefit whites in their everyday lives
Institutional racism
Discrimination and prejudice against a racial group that is built into societal structures, systems, and policies.
It’s a form of racism that operates through institutions like education, criminal justice, healthcare, and employment. Unlike individual racism, which is based on the beliefs and actions of individuals, institutional racism is embedded in the rules, practices, and policies of organizations and systems.
Overt racism
Explicit, conscious prejudice and discrimination directed at individuals or groups based on their race, often characterized by overt actions or behaviors
Microaggressions
a subtle, often unintentional, verbal or nonverbal communication that conveys a hostile, derogatory, or negative message to a person or group based on their membership in a marginalized group
Tacit racism (Rawls & Duck)
In the context of Anne Rawls and Waverly Duck’s sociology, tacit racism refers to how racism is subtly embedded in everyday social interactions and expectations, leading to racial inequality even when individuals are not consciously aware of it. They argue that these interactions, which they call “Interaction Orders of Race,” shape how people perceive and treat each other, creating a system of power where some groups are consistently disadvantaged.
Asian American racialization
Asian American racialization in sociology specifically examines how Asian Americans, a diverse group with varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds, have been categorized and treated as a distinct “race” within the US context.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a significant landmark in U.S. immigration history, marking the first federal law to restrict immigration based on ethnicity.
It effectively barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States, impacting Chinese communities, families, and businesses.
The act also set a precedent for future restrictive immigration laws, highlighting the influence of economic and cultural tensions, as well as ethnic discrimination, on immigration policy
Model minority myth
In sociology, the “model minority” concept refers to the stereotype of a minority group, typically Asian Americans, that is perceived as having achieved significant socioeconomic success through hard work and assimilation, often used to contrast with other minority groups.
The model minority narrative was created to discredit the claims of black civil rights activists during this period
Hispanic American racial classification
the racial classification of Hispanic Americans is a complex and evolving issue, with significant historical and social implications. It’s crucial to understand that according to the U.S. Census Bureau and federal standards, “Hispanic or Latino” is considered an ethnicity, not a race. This means that individuals of Hispanic origin can be of any race (White, Black, American Indian, Asian, etc.)
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848)
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, ended the Mexican-American War and transferred vast territories from Mexico to the United States. This had significant sociological consequences, primarily for the people living in the newly acquired areas, particularly those of Mexican descent.
Mexico cedes Western territories to United States
Mexican families residing in these territories had their land taken away by white settlers
Bracero program
a series of agreements between the U.S. and Mexican governments, had significant sociological implications, particularly concerning labor, migration, and social inequalities.
The program, aimed at addressing labor shortages during WWII and beyond, led to increased migration patterns from Mexico to the U.S., impacting families and communities on both sides of the border. It also had implications for farm labor, social justice movements, and the development of transnational identities
Quota systems (1965 reforms)
In sociology, the quota system refers to a set limit on the number of immigrants allowed to enter a country, specifically within a given timeframe. In the context of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, this refers to the abolition of the discriminatory national origins quota system that had been in place since the 1920s.
Undocumented status and labor vulnerability
- By 2016, there were an estimated 5.6 million illegal Mexican immigrants in the US, with 20 percent living below the poverty line. They have few legal protections and are vulnerable to exploitation by employers. The undocumented population also includes migrants from war-torn countries like El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala
Public perceptions vs. immigration data
There is a disconnect between public perception and the realities of immigration. For example, media and politicians emphasize the challenge posed by immigration, especially from countries like Mexico. Yet Mexican immigration has been declining overall since 2005
Immigration and crime myth
Rhetoric linking immigration to crime is not supported by data.
For example: According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, immigrants and asylum seekers are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than all native-born men, and 30% less likely to be incarcerated than native-born white men (NBER 2024)
Data from the FBI’s 2023 Uniform Crime Report show that border cities have lower violent crime rates than non-border cities
Immigration and the economy
Overall, immigration provides a substantial net benefit to the economy
Reliance on welfare benefits is usually temporary
First generation immigrants pay $1.38 in taxes for every $1 they receive in benefits, according to recent research by the Cato Institute
The US Congressional Budget Office projects that adding immigrants as workers and consumers will grow America’s economy by $7 trillion in the next decade, and increase tax revenue by $1 trillion
discrimination vs prejudice
You can think of prejudice as attitudes toward members of a group, and discrimination as behavior based on those attitudes
