Transcript Social Inequality Chapter 3 – Status Inequality

Social Inequality
Chapter 7 – Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Dr. Roderick Graham
Fordham University
The Meaning and Creation of Race

As social, economic, and cultural positions of groups changed,
so did their race (in this way, class can predict race)
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Irish, Italian, and Jewish Immigrants were considered non-white in the
United States until their class position changed.
Racial classifications are also a function of historical conditions
and social context.
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Chinese and Japanese added to the census because of their increased
population
Octoroon and Quadroon added to census when US concerned with
racial purity
In modern society, “biracial” and “multiracial” more common
The Meaning and Creation of Race

White is not really seen as a race by whites, but more not
being a minority. Minorities are members of racial
groups, whites are not.
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A person’s racial self-identification may not be congruent
with society’s view of them
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Multi-racial people, while often considered “black” by society,
often see themselves as between races, or white.
Hispanic-Americans often do not identify as racially white or
racially black…thus the census presents the option of
“ethnicity”.
The Meaning and Creation of Race
Race is a social construction
 Created through the interaction of dominant (those
higher in the class, status, and political hierarchy) and
subordinate groups in society
 The categories (who) and content (what they do) of
races change as society changes and power differentials
change
 Also, the content of racial categories change as values in
society change
The Meaning and Creation of Race
Race is a social construction
 Racial categories are invariably constructed to benefit the
dominant groups in society
 Categories help group maintain their positions
 Race is used to justify immoral acts against another group
In other words, our understanding of racial groups is not
grounded in reality. The content of racial categories is
“made” and then we use the created content to structure
our actions.
History of Racial and Ethnic Relations
Native-Americans
 In the beginning of U.S. history, religion and ethnicity was
used to separate groups into inferior and superior
 Early relations peaceful, but the desire for land by white
farmers made it necessary to categorize NativeAmericans as the “evil other”
 Native Americans were categorized as irreligious savages.
This made it easier for whites to see them as not human
and it justified the taking of land.
History of Racial and Ethnic Relations
African-Americans
 Africans were brought to the U.S. in order to supply labor
for the agricultural areas of the country.
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Whites believes that blacks were inferior intellectually
and physically - this justified using them as slave labor and
alleviate any moral misgivings.
History of Racial and Ethnic Relations
African-Americans
 Blacks frequently interacted with whites at the same time their
population was increasing. Laws were passed to maintain
social distance and retain economic, status, and political
positions. Blacks could not…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Intermarry with whites
Vote
Testify against whites
Own firearms
Use abusive language against whites
Own property unless permitted by whites
Leave a plantation without permission or disobey a curfew
Learn how to read or write
History of Racial and Ethnic Relations
African-Americans
 Blacks and whites were two castes in American society
 After the civil war, many of the restrictions against blacks
were banned legally, but they were enforced in other
ways:
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Blacks could vote, but voting requirements or physical
intimidation made voting unlikely in many southern states
Intermarriage was still illegal, and the sexual and physical
separation of black and white was enforced through custom,
norms, and outside groups (KKK)
History of Racial and Ethnic Relations
Other Minority Groups
 Most other minority groups were placed into the “other”
category, and their labor was exploited
 Mexicans are imported and used as cheap labor until
demand drops…then they are seen as intruders, and are
sent back
 Japanese immigrants settled heavily in California and
Hawaii. During WWII Japanese-Americans were rounded
up and placed into internment camps.
Racial and Ethnic Inequality Today
“Somewhat” Likeable Ethnic
Groups (not as competent)
Dangerous
Areas
Likeable Ethnic Groups
(somewhat competent)
Competent Ethnic
Groups (Not likeable)
Racial and Ethnic Inequality Today
Wealth Inequality
 Inequality persists between white income/wealth and the
income/wealth of blacks and Hispanics.
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Differences in wealth are perpetuated because wealth is
inherited/passed down through generations (See “The
Hidden Cost of Being African-American”)
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Blacks have been discriminated against in the housing
market exacerbating inequality between black and white
Racial and Ethnic Inequality Today
Income Inequality
 Income differences are not as large as wealth differences
 The income gap was steadily decreasing until the 2000’s,
but the gap is rising again
 The decrease in income inequality was related to the
amount of hours worked (blacks work more hours for
the same incomes)
Racial and Ethnic Inequality Today
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Earnings and Occupations
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Blacks and Hispanics have lower weekly earnings and hourly
wages
Minorities are more hurt by losses in the manufacturing sector
(lack of education makes it more difficult to move into white
collar jobs)
Immigration has hurt Hispanic earnings and occupations
(newer immigrants compete with second generation Hispanics
for jobs, and are willing to work for lower wages)
Differences in earnings are tied to differences in occupational
distribution
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
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Blacks and Hispanics are overrepresented in certain occupations
These occupations have relatively lower incomes and prestige
(there is a causal relationship between racial composition and
wages)
However, over the past thirty years, blacks have become more
distributed throughout the occupational structure
Blacks are in
service and
working class
white collar
positions
Hispanics are in
labor and
construction
positions
Required Reading

The Hidden Cost of Being African American, Ch. 3 –
“Inheritance – ‘That Parent Thing’”
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This reading explores how wealth perpetuates inequality. White Americans
tend to have more resources to draw on when buying homes or paying for
college. While the income gap between blacks and whites has decreased,
the disparity in wealth allows whites to purchase homes more quickly, save
more, and spend more freely than African-Americans with similar incomes.
Key Concepts for this reading:
 Head-Start Assets
 Transformative Assets
END of Part I