MINORITIES IN SOCIETYAn introduction

WHAT IS A MINORITYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjHjNDJc2j8&safe=active

A group of people with different physical or cultural traits different from those of the dominant group in society

Key features Have distinctive physical or cultural traits that can be

used to separate it from the majority The minority can be dominated by the majority Minority traits are often viewed by the majority to be

inferior Members of the minority have a common sense of

identity and strong group loyalty The majority determines who belongs in the minority

through ascribed status

DEFINING RACE People sharing certain inherited

physical characteristics that are considered important with a society

Most scientists consider racial classifications arbitrary and misleading

For sociologists social attitudes and characteristics that relate to race are more important than physical characteristics

Physical characteristics are superior only in a sense they provide certain advantages for living in a certain environment

DEFINING RACEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aaTAUAEyho&safe=active

Geneticists claim there may be more difference between a tall person and a short person, than between people of different races who are the same height

There is no scientific evidence that connects any racial characteristic with innate superiority or inferiority

There is no evidence of innate differences in athleticism or intelligence among the various races

DEFINING ETHNICITYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7XRpr_x1bE&safe=active

A group identified by cultural, religious, or national characteristics

Typically an ethnic minority is defined by Language Religion Values Beliefs Norms Customs

DEFINING ETHNICITY Ethnic minorities work in the

majority economy, send their children through the host educational system, and are subject to the laws of the land

Sometimes ethnic minorities wish to remain separate from the larger culture due to a desire to maintain its culture or religious autonomy ex: Hutterites or Mennonites in Canada

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9xBSTT6bq8&safe=active

METHODS AND APPROACHES TO FITTING IN

Historically both acceptance and rejection have been realties of the minority experience

Assimilation The blending or fusing of minority

groups into the dominant culture Mosaic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXLkDdgQAMU&safe=active based on our belief that Canada as a

whole becomes stronger by having immigrants bring with them their cultural diversity for all Canadians to learn from.

METHODS AND APPROACHES TO FITTING IN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq0mRjv4DdA&safe=active Melting Pot

The cultural melting pot, as adopted in the United States, tells immigrants that no matter who they have been in the past, upon landing on American shores, they are Americans and are expected to adopt and follow the American way.

METHODS AND APPROACHES TO FITTING IN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq0mRjv4DdA&safe=active Salad Bowl

An updated view of American approach, in which tradition and culture exist side by side

Cultural Pluralism The desire of a group

to maintain some sense of identity separation from the dominant group

PATTERNS OF CONFLICT

Sociologists look at historical records and current events

Three basic patterns have emerged in the rejection of minority groups

These are genocide population transfer subjugation

GENOCIDEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu8yNiGYiw8&safe=active

The systematic efforts to destroy an entire population

The most severe example is the Holocaust by the Nazi regime during the 1930s and 1940s

More recent examples include Rwanda in 1994

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85RlFabYw5g&safe=active

Bosnia Herzegovina in 1992-1995 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8NBbyTzB9Q&safe=active

Cambodia 1975-79 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF41UXcrzMY&safe=active

POPULATION TRANSFER

A minority is forced to move to a remote location or to leave entirely the territory controlled by the majority

This was the policy used in both Canada and the United States that created the reservation system for our aboriginal peoples http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ50c0UkYSo&safe=active

In Canada it was also the approach used for the deportations of the Acadians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z38KrfRlqQo&safe=active

SUBJUGATIONhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AiuuWdKxyE&safe=active

Process by which a minority group is denied equal access to the benefits of society

There are two different types of subjugation de jure subjugation

Denial of equal access based on the law de facto subjugation

Denial of equal access based on everyday practice

METHODS OF UNEQUAL TREATMENT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VNlZezkrWI&safe=active

Prejudice, racism and discrimination are three realties of unequal treatment in all societies

Prejudice Widely held negative attitudes towards a

group and its individual members Racism

An extreme form of prejudice that assumes the superiority of one group over another

Discrimination Treating people differently based on

ethnicity, race, religion or culture

STEREOTYPEShttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rAT5oeLlyA&safe=active

A distorted, exaggerated or oversimplified image applied to certain category of people

Problems associated with stereotyping it makes us ignore differences between

individuals The use of stereotypes is a major way in

which we simplify our social world we infer that a person has a whole range of

characteristics and abilities that we assume all members of that group have.

Most stereotypes probably tend to convey a negative impression

HATE CRIMEShttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSU_svSZuB8&safe=active

Hate Crimes A criminal act motivated by prejudice

Actually occur in relatively small numbers, but the frequency is increasing

Victims typically include Racial/Ethnic minorities Gays Lesbians People with disabilities

According to the latest Statistics Canada figures, police reported 1,401 hate crimes in 2010, or 4.1 hate crimes per 100,000 Canadians. Over half (53 per cent) were motivated by race or ethnicity, while 29.5 per cent were religiously motivated, and 16 per cent were motivated by sexual orientation.

HATE CRIMES IN CANADA

According to information from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics

About 4% of all self-reported criminal victimization incidents were believed to be motivated by hate

Of the 928 hate crimes recorded by the 12 major police forces the majority were motivated by race/ethnicity 57%, religion 43%, sexual orientation 10%

The majority of these offences were offences against the person 52%, property offences 31%, other offences such as hate propaganda 17%

Weapons were used in one of five hate crimes 83% of victims did not know their perpetrator. 15%

identified a causal relationship or business acquaintance

There was a short lived increase in hate crimes in Canada following Sept 11th