| What is a Minority
Group? |
- A subordinate group whose members have
significantly less control or power over their
lives than members of a dominant or majority group
|
- Not limited to mathematical minority: example
women, Blacks in South Africa, Blacks in
Mississippi and South Carolina in the 1920's
|
- Interchangeable with subordinate group
|
- A group that experiences a narrowing of
opportunities (success, education, wealth, etc)
that is disproportionately low compared to their
numbers in the society
|
|
| Characteristics of
a Minority Group |
- Distinguishing physical or cultural traits, e.g.
skin color or language
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- Unequal Treatment and Less Power over their lives
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- Involuntary membership in the group (no personal
choice)
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- Awareness of subordination and strong sense of
group solidarity
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| Types of Minority Groups |
| Racial |
- Groups who are classified according to obvious
physical characteristics, e.g. skin color
- US Racial Minority Groups: Blacks, American
Indian, Asian Americans, Hawaiians
|
| Ethnic |
- Groups who are differentiated on the basis of
culture such as language, food
- US Ethnic Minority Groups: Hispanics or
Latinos such as Chicanos, Puerto Ricans,
Cuban; Jews are also consider cultural
minorities instead of religious minorities.
- Racial groups can also so have distinctive
cultural traditions
- Note: Ethnic minority can be either black or
white or Asian American or Native American.
So that a person can be both Black and
Hispanic
|
| Gender |
- Males are a social majority; women demonstrate four
out of five characteristics of minority status. There
are no in-group marriages
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| Religion |
- Groups who have a religion other than the
dominant faith.
- US Religious minorities - Muslims, Amish,
Mormons, Roman Catholics
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