Week #8

Question 1

What does the term vertical mosaic mean?

Answer 1

Ethnicity is a major source of social, economic, and political inequality and conflict

Question 2

What are characteristics of race?

Answer 2

Is not rooted in biology
Is not a natural category of distinction
Is socially constructed

Question 3

Define ethnicity

Answer 3

Emphasizes culture, ideology, and descent.
Social exclusion (Max Weber)

Question 4

define Visible Minority

Answer 4

“Persons, other than Aboriginal persons, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour”

Employment Equity Act

Question 5

What do studies of ethnicity examine?

Answer 5

1. Assimilation
2. Cultural pluralism
3. Relative social disadvantage compared to other ethnic groups

Question 6

what is assimilation?

Answer 6

Extent to which ethnic groups are integrated into communities

Question 7

what is cultural pluralism?

Answer 7

Extent to which ethnic groups have maintained their ethnic identity

Question 8

what is structural racism?

Answer 8

Race is socially constructed, but social relations have very real consequences

• Racialized social systems
• Economic, political, social, and ideological systems structured by racial categories

Hierarchy of social relations
- Material and ideological

Question 9

What is the racial hierarchy in canada?

Answer 9

Historical British dominance of the economy

Anglo-Saxon advantage remains, but at lower level

Question 10

Explain French Canadian Social Inequality

Answer 10

Historically disadvantaged in SES

• Average income slightly above the Canadian average, but below the average of those of British & other European ancestry groups
• Lower levels of education than many other ethnic groups, but higher than the Canadian average
• Since 1960s, decreasing inequality
• English continue to hold greater economic power at elite level

Question 11

Explain Aboriginal Inequality

Answer 11

• Erosion of their power through the loss of land and natural resources
• Isolation from larger society
• SES has risen, but high levels of inequality remains

Question 12

Explain the link between race/ethnicity and education

Answer 12

• Educational disadvantages stem from economic disadvantages
• Higher levels of education among current visible minorities
• Aboriginal education programs
• ‘At risk’ children

Question 13

What are educational . aspirations of races?

Answer 13

Aspiration to obtain university degree:
Visible minority immigrant youth: 79%
Canadian born non-vis minority: 57%

Question 14

What is education attainment by demography?

Answer 14

On average, children of immigrants achieve higher levels of education than children of Canadian born parents.
Wide differences by national origin.

University completion rates:
Chinese & Indian born parents: 65%
German, Central & South American born parents: 24%
Canadian born parents: 28%

Question 15

What are the barriers to education for Aboriginal Canadians?

Answer 15

• Opportunities for financial assistance vary
• Access to higher education for those on rural reserves
• Leaving the community
• Unfamiliar surroundings and customs
• Different ontology and epistemology
• Feelings of obligation to leave community for employment