Ethnic Groups and Racism Essay

GENERAL SOCIOLOGY/SOCIETY CULTURE hea and thenish GROUPS AND RACISM I. INTRODUCTION lavation and favorableity be meaning(a) concepts in the field of sociology and atomic spot 18 whizz(a)s that argon stu conkd a extensive deal. Race plays a large employment in everyday human key interactions and sociologists neediness to study how, why, and what the start keep abreasts atomic number 18 of these interactions. A take to the woods is a human population that is believed to be limpid in virtually right smart from a nonher(prenominal)(prenominal) humans ground on real or imagined carnal divergences. racial mixtures atomic number 18 root in the supposition of biologic kinfolkification of humans agree to morphological features such(prenominal) as come up color or facial characteristics.An singular is usually externally classified ( pie-eyeding soulfulness else makes the classification) into a racial pigeonholing earlier than the individual choosing where th ey belong as deviate of their soulal identity. Conceptions of execute, as well as detail racial rootings, argon often moot due to their impact on well-disposed identity and how those identities influence some iodines position in neighborly hierarchies. heathenishality, succession related to race, pushs non to sensible characteristics that societal traits that be sh atomic number 18d by a human population. Some of the amicable traits often utilise for sociable classification implicate nationality tribe ghostly doctrine shargond language sh atomic number 18d ending shared traditions Unlike race, sociableality is not usually externally assigned by different individuals.The term heathenishity focuses more(prenominal) upon a concourses connection to a comprehend shared past and culture. II. CONTENT/ yeasty REPORT DEFINITION OF RACE AND culturalITY Race is a tenderly lay outd category, based on real or perceived biologic differences mingled with c hemical congregations of nation. Ethnicity is a socially be category based on unwashed language, organized religion, nationality, history or an other(a) social factor.Sociologists see race and ethnicity as social constructions because they are not grow in biological differences, they change all over time, and they never assimilate firm boundaries. example White The evidention between race and ethnicity usher out be displayed or hidden, depending on individual preferences, piece of music racial identities are always on display. THE SOCIOLOGICAL kernel OF ETHNIC GROUPS AND RACISM The classification of flock into races and ethnic radicals carries deep implication on the social and governmental life of opposite racial and ethnic separates.These classifications led to the belief of racial favorable position and racial modestity, paganly advanced sortings and heathenly disadvantaged, the use of disparaging undertones and parody, apartheid policy, divergence and mischief, and stereotyping of conventions of mickle. Ethnic fights squander been uniform bear upon within the same territorial reserve borders and among the nations of the ball. Ethnic competitivenesss do been pervasive and self-destructive because they cause massive humanitarian suffering, complaisant wars, and destabilizing effects. Sociologically, race refers to a convocation of multitude whom others believe are transmissibleally distinct and whom they treat accordingly.This term is commonly used to refer to physical differences between volume brought some by physical characteristics of genetic origin. This commonness of genetic heritage whitenessthorn be manifested in the shape of the gunpoint and face, the shape and color of the eyes, the shape of the nose, lips, and ears, the cereal and color of the hair, the grate color, height, blood emblem and other physical characteristics. Among the significant racial categories studied by early social scientists were the Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid, and the sub assemblages of primary and derived races. Racial differences are seen as physical differences bingled out by the confederation or order of magnitude as ethnically significant.It is preferable 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 have a common cultural background as evidenced by a feeling of loyalty to a given geographical territory or leader, a feeling of identification with and consent among historical and other group experiences, or a high degree of similitude in social norms, ideas and material objects. Members of ethnic groups see themselves as culturally diametric from other groups in the decree and are viewed by others to be so.SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF social station IN RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS rank and file in racial and ethnic groups influences populations social status and roles as they interact with others. Physical characteristics, especially skin color and certain distinctive cultural traits, complexes, and patterns, become badges for social and economical status. Frequently, they raise a persons or groups position in the social stratification system and make up the alkali for prejudice, contrariety, and other forms of derived function treatment.Furthermore, when an ethnic group becomes a tar desex of discrimination, such group whitethorn utilize the unique physical or cultural traits as the rally force for promoting common loyalties and enhancing collective action. When hatfuls definition of physical characteristics greatly affects their family traffichip, such definitions generally become interlinked with cultural differences. A classic example is the white mans justification of his technical, economic, political and soldiery superiority.Examples are such ideologies as the God-chosen race, the white mans centre and more recently, the apartheid policy. Since the early days of the linked States, indigenous Americans, African-Americans and European-Americans were classified as be to different races. But the criteria for membership in these races were radically different. For Africans, the government involveed some(prenominal)one with African visual aspect to be purely African. Native Americans, on the other hand, were classified based on a certain percentage of Indian blood. Finally, European-Americans had to have purely white ancestry.The differing criteria for depute membership to particular races had relatively undersized 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 sense of great deal-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 consider our aver kind. Erich Fromm wrote in 1941 The identity with nature, clan, religion, gives t he individual security. He belongs to, he is rooted in, geomorphologicalized whole in which he has an beyond doubt(predicate) place. He may suffer from lust or suppression, nevertheless he does not suffer from worst of all pains- despatch aloneness and doubt. PATTERNS OF ETHNIC GROUP transaction People who steep a rate status are usually called a minority group. What determines a minority group is not the unique racial or ethnics traits nor their great number only when the relationship of different groups in the order 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 anisometric 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 vitrines, even up segregation, oppression, slavery, peonage, military seduction, apparitional per secution, and economic, political, educational, and social suppression. The patterns of ethnic group relations include the fol low-pitcheding(a) 1. Patterns of Racism a. impairment and discrimination Racism is behavior that is motivated by the belief that ones let group is superior to other groups that are set apart on the understructure of physical characteristics Structural racialism refers to inequalities make into an organization or system.An example of morphological racism can be seen in recent research on study discrimination. 37 thither is widespread discrimination against telephone circuit applicants whose names were merely perceived as sounding black. These applicants were 50% less probable than candidates perceived as having white-sounding names to hold callbacks for interviews, no matter their level of prior experience. Prejudice prejudged negative attitude or opinion about a group without iiering to verify the merits of the opinion or ruling The relation ship between prejudice and discrimination is complex. Robert Mertons study and typology of the relationship between prejudice and discrimination Four patterns 1. unbiased nondiscriminatory integration 2. Unprejudiced and discriminatory institutional discrimination 3. Prejudiced and nondiscriminatory latent intolerance 4. Prejudiced and discriminatory outright credulity In his study, (1974), Bulatao listed impressions on some ethnic groups by respondents from five Philippine cities Ilocanos and Chinese were viewed as or so industrious, serious, thrifty Tagalogs, imperfect Bicolanos and Cebuanos, humble, friendly, warm, and peaceful Warays, lazy but cockeyed and Ilongos, proud and extravagant.b. Discrimination refers to the act of disqualify or mistreating people on the behind of their group membership or on ascriptive rounds rationally irrelevant to the situation. Whereas prejudice is a extract 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 PREJUDICE Light gives the following explanations on the origin of prejudice1. stinting Theory- assumes that racial prejudice is a social attitude transmitted by the rife ethnic bulk class for the blueprint of stigmatizing some group s as inferior so that the exploitation of the group resources will be justified. 2. symbolical Theory- asserts that prejudice arises because a racial or ethnic group is a symbol of what people hate, fear, or envy. 3. Scapegoat theory- maintains that human beings are reluctant to accept their mistakes for their troubles and failures so they notion for an ethnic-minority to shoulder the blame.4. Social norm theory- asserts that ethnocentrism is a inborn development of group living. abomination and suspicion for the out-group are the standard and prescript way of doing things, particularly in traffic with people. c. Stereotypes are often simplified and unsubstantiated generalizations about others and are used wantonly 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 ( rain cats and dogs or hot people).2. Patterns of Competition, Conflict and mastery When ethnocentric attitudes are coupled with intergroup tilt for territory and scarce resources, an explosive social situation may arise. When two groups both strive for the same things- and they perceive their single claims to be mutually exclusively and legitimate- the stop 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, controversy supplies the motivation for systems of stratification, and ethnocentrism directs competition along racial and ethnic lines, but power determines which group will tighten the other (Noel, 1972 Barth and Noel, 1975). 3. Economic and Political Subjugation.The economic coup detat of one nation by a more powerful one and the subsequent political and social mastery of the native population is called colonialism. If the takeover of one nation is trough the military superiority of the more powerful one for the objective of territorial expansion and establishing colonies, it is termed as military colonialism.On the other hand, if the economic takeover is made through with(predicate) 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 colonys natural resources, the imposition of trade policies and economic treaties favorable to their side the establishment of outlets for their surplus enceinte the need for more cheap labor, tippy materials, and markets to fuel their growing economy, the process is termed neo-colonialism or economic imperialism.4. Displacement and separationism of the Native Population Economic and political subjugation of a minority population by a more powerful group is not the only pattern of triumph that occurs when different racial and ethnic group meet.Displacement of native population can be made possible through the influx of powerful settlers or invaders with their immensely superior weapons. It is typically found in areas rich in natural resources and alike(p) in geography and climate to the motherland of the invading group.Displacement takes the following forms a. ) by attrition, that is, numbers of the weaker group may die of starvation or disease any talk overly or not b. ) by population transfer and c. ) by genocide- deliberate and ruthless extermination of the weaker group. Segregation involves the routine of laws and/or custom that restrict or prohibit contact between groups. Segregation may be ethnic or racial or based on sex or age. 5. Patterns of Accommodation and Tolerance. sundry(a) and interethnic accommodation can be carried out through miscegenation or amalgamation- the exogamy of members of the majority and minority groups. This can aftermath in the blending of their various customs and determine and the creation of a unsanded cultural hybrid. This involves a cultural and biological blending in which the customs and values of both groups are to some extent pushd and their biological characteristics appear in the offspring. 6. Patterns of Acculturation and preoccupation Acculturation and socialization are two very important concepts in sociology and anthropology that describe cross cultural effects on both minorities as well as majorities 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 see of the two concepts as same and even use them interchangeably. If you belong to a minority familiarity in a agricultural and retain your declare culture but cannot remain isolated and are unnatural by the majority culture in such a way that you aline 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 correct to the ways of the majority culture. There is a loss of ones own culture as a person gives more value to the cultural aspects of the majority community in the process of assimilation. What is the difference between Acculturation and Assimilation? see 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 mitigated or lost. Acculturation is a process where the cultural aspects of the majority community a re 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 Diversity pagan pluralism refers to the coexistence of different racial or ethnic groups each of which retains its own cultural identity and social structural networks, while participating equally in the economic and political systems.(Light, 1985) 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 get in in the economic and political systems and abide in harmony and peaceful coexistence. A prime example of such an array 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 discrimin ated against. ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE PHILIPPINES.Ethnic groups in the Philippines are classified according to certain physical, cultural, linguistic, religious and geographic criteria. A. agree to distinctive physical traits 1. The Negritoes who are regarded as the aborigines of the Philippines. 2. The Indonesian- Malayan beginning 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 Europeans who came as colonizers. B. According to cultural standpoints 1. Cultural minorities or cultural communities 2. Muslims 3. Christian groups C.According to linguistic groupings PANAMIN reports that there are about 87 ethno linguistic groups in the Philippines-e. g. , Tagalog, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Ilonggo, etc. D. According to religion 1. Roman Catholics 2. Muslims 3. Aglipayans 4. Protestants 5. Iglesia ni Cristo 6. Buddhists 7. Jehovahs witnesses 8. Other religious sects. E. Musl ims of Southern Philippines The Muslims make up the largest single non-Christian group. They have nine ethno-linguistic groups, namely 1. Taosug 2. Maranao 3. Maguindanao 4. Samal 5. Yakan 6. Sanggil 7. Badjao 8. Molbog 9. Jama Mapun.From the Spanish regime to the present, Muslim and Christian intergroup relationships 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. Muslim revolutionary groups the Moro National Liberation take care (MNLF) and the Bangsai Moro Liberation Front (BMLF) want Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan to run away from the Philippines. THE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE CHRISTIAN FILIPINOS The non-Christian Filipinos now cognize 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 differenc es. There are 77 major ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines. A. Federal Luzon 1. Isneg 11. Ivatan/Itbayat 21. Malaweg 2. Kalinga 12. Ilocano 22. Yogad 3. Ifugao 13. Apayao 23. Pangasinan 4. Bontok 14. Balangao 24. Palanan 5. Kankanai 15. Bago 25. Kapampangan 6. Ibaloi 16. Kalanguya 26. Tagalog 7. Gaddang 17. Iwak 27. Bicol 8. Tinggian 18. Isinay 28. Negrito 9. Ilongot 19. Ibanag 29. Sambal 10. Ibalahan 20. Itawit B. Smaller Groups in Luzon 1. Aetas 2. Dumagats of Quezon Province 3. Mangyans of Mindoro.4. Hanunoo C. Visayas 1. Bataks 7. Aklanon 13. Solud 2. Keney 8. Rombloanon 14. Bukidnon 3. Negritoes 9. Bantoanon 15. Boholano 4. Alangans 10. Hiligaynon 16. Cebuano 5. Masbateno 11. Kiniray-a 17. Waray 6. Abakon 12. Hamtikanon D. Mindanao 1. Tagurays 8. Mansakas 15. Kamiguin 2. Tagabilis 9. Maranao 16. Mamanwa 3. Bilaans 10. Sangil/Sangir 17. Butuanon 4. Mandayas 11. Ilanun 18. Kamayo 5. Manobos 12. Maguindanao 19. Bagobo 6. Tasadays 13. Tiboli 20. Kalagan 7. Magtisalugs 14. S ubanon 21. Kalibugan E. In Sulu/Tawi-Tawi 1. Yakan 2. Sama 3. Sama Dilaut 4. Tausug 5. Jama Mapun F. In Palawan 1. Tagbanua 2. Agutayanen 3. Kuyonen 4. Molbog.5. Palawan 6. Batak 7. Taut Baten III. GROUP check Within sociology, the terms race, ethnicity, minority, and dominant group all have very proper(postnominal) and different meanings. To see the sociological linear 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 consciousness of their common cultural bond.An ethnic group does not exist barely 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 also found in other societies, such as the Pashtuns in Afghanistan or the Shiites in Iraq, whose ethnicity is base on religious differences. want ethnicity, race is primarily, though not exclusively, a socially constructed category.A race is a group that is tempered 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 other words, 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, informal preference, age, or class status. It is important to blood 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 some(prenominal) sociological theories about why prejudice, discrimination, an d racism exist. Current sociological theories focus principally on explaining the existence of racism, particular institutional racism. The three major sociological perspectives (functionalist theory, emblematic 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 harmonized conduct 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 interaction theorists assure at two issues in relation to race and ethnicity. First, they look at the role of social interaction and how it get overs racial and ethnic hostility.Second, they look at how race and ethnicity are socially constructed. In essence, symbolic interactionists ask the question, What happens wh en two people of different race or ethnicity come in contact with one some other and how can such interracial or interethnic contact reduce hostility and conflict? The basic argument made by conflict theorists is that class-based conflict is an inherent and fundamental part of society. These theorists thus argue that racial and ethnic conflict is tied to class conflict and that in order to reduce racial and ethnic conflict, class conflict must first be reduced.