...Outline and Assess functionalist explanations for ethnic inequality Functionalists hold the view that ethnic inequality is a dysfunctional for society, and that ethnic minorities need to become more similar to the white majority. This is known as Assimilation theory, which is staunchly criticised by the Marxists who believe racism exists to justify the inequalities that are so wide spread by the Bourgeoisie via Capitalism. Weberianism concurs with Marxists (so they diverge from the Functionalists) to an extent, but they introduce status into the explanation. Postmodernists take a approach antagonistic to all of the afore mentioned approaches, and that is to argue that blanket terms such as ethnicity are no longer relevant in the modern era, where our identities are defined by consumerism and globalisation. Functionalists outline the Assimilation Theory, suggested by Patterson. Patterson believes that the influx of immigrants into Britain in the 1950s disturbed what was a homogenous society with social stability and a high degree of social integration, leading to a value consensus. The norms and values brought in with the immigrants led to a Cultural Clash, where each different ethnicity were seen to be against the norm. This created many stereotypes e.g. boisterous West Indians. Prejudice also came about, buoyed by xenophobia, competing for jobs between ethnicities and a lack of similarity (Assimilation) with foreigners. Patterson continues by arguing this has caused self-segregation...
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...Structural violence refers to a systematic institution which inflicts harm in the way of individuals and disadvantages them in meeting their basic needs. Paul Farmer explains this term in An Anthropology of Structural Violence by separating the phrase. The term ”structure” refers to a neutral policy which supposedly exists unquestionably and permanently. “Structure” is paired with the term “violence” referring our attention to thoughts of injustices and inequalities. In actuality, these customs do not exist neither naturally nor neutrally, but have been embedded in the political, economic, and social organization of societies over time. Structural violence is not limited to local histories or countries classified as third world, but also...
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...We can see how racism is influential when it comes to parents to child, and we...
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...To obtain justice does one need power, and to obtain power does one need weapons? In the Civil Rights Movement there have been many views on how to change one issue, racial inequality. From groups like the Black Panthers who advocated for the rights to bare arms for self protection, to the Freedom Riders who did not believe violent retaliation in any form. Comparing figureheads such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X show the distinct differences between the two, what may seem like a radical idea to one may not seems so to the other. The contrasting ideas of both nonviolent activists and activists who believe violence is inevitable if not necessary in the Civil Rights Movement, emphasizes the idea that nonviolence is key to one understanding...
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...Racism Final Assignment RACISM Europe, Middle East, Britain and United States. by Lois C. Etete Prof Mehdi Nazer HUM: 112 June 13, 2012 Introduction This document will analyze the contemporary society but also discern present events patterns that will continue to be of consequences five to ten years hence. The paper will explain Racism as a serious problem confronting societies at the present time. The document will draw attention to the fact that these problems or issues are rooted in human civilization. Racism is the belief that characteristics and abilities can be attributed to people simply on the basis of their race and that some racial groups are superior to others. Racism and discrimination have been used as powerful weapons encouraging fear or hatred of others in times of conflict and war, and even during economic downturns. Racism is also a very touchy subject for some people, as issues concerning free speech and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights come into play. Some people argue that talking about supporting racial discrimination and prejudice is just words and that free speech should allow such views to be aired without restriction. Others point out that these words can lead to some very dire and serious consequences (the Nazi government policies being one example).Race: Are We So Different, Understanding Race, American Anthropological Association (AAA), July 8, 2009 In a short video the Understanding Race project from...
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...Inequality for All After watching this extra-ordinary and well presented idea of inequality in United States of America by Robert Reich I kept on thinking for hours as I see many of the workers all around every time and every day I come across so many people who are low-waged and living a middle class life. I feel myself as one of those middle-class person as I see them surviving the odds and still trying to lead a respectable life. Since I got deeply touched by the documentary here are some points that I would like to discuss regarding my reflection about inequality for all. Inequalities of many kinds exist in our society. The society itself is a big structure of many social divisions. We can divide any society in many social groups like religion, caste, class, sexism, racism etc etc. The biggest difference in all of us comes with class that is lead by our capacity to consume. The main criteria for division in social class are dominated by occupation and property. We can never fully eliminate this inequality factor among us, however it can be managed by state to provide welfare to its citizens. Here, our main focus is inequality of social class. The distribution of wealth is unequal and half of the wealth of entire country is possessed by only few men. Giant fast-food companies have the largest gap between the pay of CEOs and workers of any industry, with a CEO-to-worker compensation ratio of more than 1,000-to-one. The practical choice isn’t between capitalism and Welfare-state...
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...“Of all the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 5,000 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental.” - W.E.B. Du Bois, 1970 The Band-Aid Over a Bullet Wound: How American Charter Schools are not the solution to Systematic Inequality When I was in first grade, my parents pulled me into a room and sat me on my mother’s lap. I was seven at this point, but I was always small for my age so I was still able to do this. I remember being nervous because they were acting so serious and I wondered if they were getting ready to break some bad news. I sat patiently, attempting to read their facial expressions to see if I was in trouble or if something bad had happened. And then the question came… “Maryam…Where do you want to go to school next year?” For the first few years of my education I attended public school. I went to B.M. Williams Primary School in Chesapeake, Virginia and to say I loved it would be an understatement. I was always “advanced” for my age. My teachers told me I read on a fourth grade level. I aced my math drills like they were nothing, and I always ended the year by taking home tons of awards and certificates such as “Best Reader” and “Most Likely to Become President.” School for me was the center of my world, not only because I was seven and what else do seven year olds do besides go to school, but also because my dad was a teacher. I always understood the value of education being that my father devoted his whole life...
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...The transformation of the United States into a Multicultural society did not happen overnight. However, the concept of equal treatment or any subordinate ethnic groups attempt at advancement and integration if it was not assimilation were met by stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. In every scenario from each Ethnic groups story reviewed, between chapters 6-14 of Racial and ethnic groups, whether it was about the Native Americans genocide, the African Americans civil rights or the Jews migration and the anti-Semitism they faced, the background story remains the same. The positive side is that with time things do change and as more researchers, writers, teachers, and Politian’s persist to bring national and global attention to these inequalities U.S. society has been forced to change in various areas, the work force being one of the biggest areas. Stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination and other racial labeling are used to identify each minority ethnic group and given names like Culture and Ethincity. Ethnic groups are categorized by a name, a Race, as if there physical appearances were not enough to set them apart from one another, thus labeling their identity. Labeling an ethnic groups identity with Stereotypes encourages an unreliable, exaggerated generalization about all members of the group that do not take individual differences into account (Schaefer, 2011). For instance, Surveys show a complex view in the United States of Arab and Muslim Americans. One in...
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...Race and Racism Racism occurs when one ethnic group or people as a whole controls, excludes, or tries to exclude another on the idea of the differences that it believes are genetic and cannot be changed. A belief base for racism came to a realization in the Americas during the modern period. No clear and explicit evidence of racism has been found in other cultures or in Europe before the modern period. The identification of the Jews with the devil and witchcraft in the general public of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries was perhaps the first sign of a racist view of the world. Real support for such attitudes came in sixteenth century Spain when Jews who had converted to Christianity and their descendants became the victims of a regular pattern of discrimination and segregation. The period of the Renaissance and Reformation was also the time when Europeans were coming into increasing contact with people of darker skin-color in Africa, Asia, and the Americas and were making conclusions about them. The reasoning for enslaving Africans was that they were unconverted and unbelievers of God, associated between darkness and evil but slave traders and slave owners sometimes took a passage from the book of Genesis as their justification. Ham, derives from the Hebrew Ch’m, associated with being black and burnt. The story was subsequently used to underpin theories of the origin of Africans and to justify their enslavement. (Rattansi p.17) When the state of Virginia...
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...Assess the contribution of feminist perspectives to our understanding of society (33 marks) Feminists see society as patriarchal. They seek to describe, explain and change the position of women within society. The first ‘wave’ of feminism appeared in the late 19th century with the suffragette’s campaign for the right for women to vote. Even though all feminists oppose women’s subordination, there are disagreements on its causes and how to overcome it. Liberal or reformist feminists believe that traditional prejudices and stereotypes about gender differences are a barrier to equality. They believe all human beings should have equal rights. Since both men and women are human beings, both should have the same opportunities. Liberal Feminists argue that laws and policies against sex discrimination in employment and education can secure equal opportunities for women. Campaigning for changes in law can bring about change and we can bring about change through a cultural shift within society. They reject the idea that biological differences make women less competent or rational than men or that men are biologically less emotional or nurturing than women. To bring about change we must shift society’s socialisation patterns. For example society must seek to promote appropriate role models in education and the family by doing this we will benefit from a cultural shift and gender equality will become the norm. Liberal Feminists believe that changes in socialisation and culture are gradually...
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...Introduction Racial disparity and discrimination is not a new concept to any nation. In fact, many were built on the back of slave labor, whether the slaves were indigenous peoples or imported bodies. While many nations have undertaken measures to overcome racial disparity, others have encouraged racial democracy. Brazil, a modern and industrialized nation, suffers from racial discrimination based on their position in the world economy and built on the ideology of the past. History Brazil’s history is rife with racism and slavery, dating back to its discovery by Pedro Alveres Cabral in 1500. Brazil was originally settled with the intention of harvesting Brazilwood. However, over time the profits from that were supplanted by sugar, which soon became the major export (Phillips 117). Over a short period of time, Brazil became the leading producer of sugar in the Atlantic world. The production of all these exports meant cheap labor was needed. During this time, the Portuguese were sending between 4,000 and 5,000 slaves per year to Brazil from Angola and West Africa; by the 18th century, one million slaves had been imported (117). The continually shifting landscape meant that Brazil’s exports continued to shift. By the time the 19th century came around, Brazil’s major export was coffee as sugar production had shifted to the Caribbean Islands. The continued influx of European slaves and citizens resulted in an uneven population. European labor was generally more skilled...
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...of Capitalism during the Industrialization era. Prior to the introduction of machinery and rail road systems to America, the economical framework relied on a warped version of lasseiz-faire and featured wealthy descendants of British merchants who joined the colonies. Others worked menial jobs and apprenticeships to guarantee their source of income and it is safe to say that many were unhappy with their predicament --- even if they had no platform to voice this opinion. While the Industrialization Era introduced centuries of wealth to America, it also severely tipped the wealth distribution scale which can be seen extremely in events like the multiple depressions...
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...The subject of social problems is one discipline of ever- increasing need for social inquiry. Conventional theories have just but only justified the existence of these conditions and have remained in their normative school. Critical theories have tried to push their historical materialist approach but could not bring any formidable solutions to avert social problems. By definition a social problem is an elusive concept to define and it takes forms that are the subjective and objective understanding. Eitzen et al. (2009:8) argue that some social conditions are detrimental in any situation. In this sense, they have an objective character. There are conditions in society such as poverty, racism, sexism that cause material or psycho logical suffering for parts of the population. Those conditions are, therefore, social problems in any social setting. Social problems are those conditions which are universally agreed upon by society to have adverse effects many people and those conditions which causes material and psychic suffering of the body or society such as HIV/AIDS, terrorism, war, poverty, conflict, corruption and crime (Eitzen and Bacca- Zinn, 2009). Thus, social problems have their roots form the social, economic, political, environmental, cultural and geographical contexts, thus they are socially constructed. This essay assesses the Marxist explanation and its applicability to the study of social problems and on the whole what solutions it suggests to address them. The conflict...
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...and research (Vissing, 2011). This class has shown so many different views on sociology. It explains how different people see society and how they live and interact with them. My theorist of choice is W.E.B Du Bois, because he laid down the foundation for the study of black sociology and the work of scholars such as E. Franklin Frazier (Vissing, 2011). In this paper I will discuss why I feel that W.E.B Du Bois views align with my personal views. W.E.B Du Bois real name is William Edwards Burghardt and was born February 23, 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Du bois was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author and editor. Du Bois grew up in a tolerant community and experienced little racism as a child. He was the first African American to earn a doctorate at Harvard University. Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim were widely recognized as the trinity of sociological theory. These three were trailblazing social theorists, who enhance the study of human behavior and its relationships to social institutions. There was one more scholar that they didn’t mention by the name W.E.B Du Bois. Du Bois was a political and literary giant of the 20th century. Du Bois also published over twenty books and thousands of essay and articles throughout his life. Phil Zuckerman was the editor of The Social Theory of W.E.B Du Bois assembles. Du Bois work from a wide variety of source, putting Du Bois in the newspaper, speeches he done...
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...existence without capitalism; individuals consume without a thought when we buy the latest cell phone or a new pair of hundred dollar designer jeans. It is clear that most of the world supports some form of capitalism and therefore, at least for now, capitalism has won the struggle between economic systems. Capitalism began in 1200 CE with rug merchants. Just like many traders, today, the rug merchants had to borrow money to buy their wares in order to then resell them for profit, but they had to pay back the money borrowed—usually with interest. This was called mercantile capitalism and it was a global phenomenon, from the Indian and Chinese Ocean trade to Muslim merchants who funded trade caravanserai across the Sahara. Later, merchants in Britain had expanded capitalism by developing stock companies which financed even bigger trade missions. Increased wealth of course resulted by the increased investment, but it only affected as small percentage of the population and did not create cultural influence from capitalism. Mercantile capitalism only affected a small percentage of the population, whereas industrial capitalism impacted majority of the population. Industrial capitalism was something altogether different, both in practice and scale. According to Joyce Appleby’s definition of industrial capitalism: “An economic system that relies on investment of capital in machines and technology that are used to increase production of marketable goods.” Capitalism reached its peak...
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