INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY A Canadian Focus Ninth Edition

Chapter 8 Race and Ethnic Relations Introduction Canada has always been a place of great diversity. For thousands of years by First Nations By 1867, British 60%, French 31%, Others 8% By 2001, English 20%, 16% Irish, French 16%, 14% Scottish, Aboriginal 4% Visible minorities 13% Porter called Canada a vertical mosaic; ethnicity as well as class is a source of inequality The Local Ethnic Community Institutional completeness: degree to which an ethnic population develops a strong sense of solidarity and ethnic identity and a self-sufficient range of ethnic institutions. Occupational specialization: building a secure niche in the economic structure. Members may share more than culture, also economic and political interests, e.g., Italians in construction, many East Asians are entrepreneurs. But limited opportunities and discrimination could result. (cont’d) The Local Ethnic Community (cont’d) Immigrants comprise a high percentage of Canadian society and a very high percentage of some cities. Chain migration: sequential movement of persons from a common place of origin to a common destination, with the assistance of those there. Immigration policies in Canada have the objectives of: family reunification—27% (in 2001) safe haven for refugees—11% economic benefits to our society—61%. Table 8.1 Ethnic Group An ascribed status, conferred at birth Form of social organization with boundaries maintained by social norms governing interaction e.g., endogamy: marriage within the group A subculture; some emphasize it more than others A focus of identity, a sense of belonging with others, children may experience conflict Race and Minority Group Inherited physical traits may become socially defined as very significant. Social category: a collection of individuals who share a trait(s) regarded as meaningful. Social meaning can include the assignment of a rank: subordinate or superordinate. Category may have little common, but they may become a social group, e.g., First Nations. (cont’d) Race and Minority Group (cont’d) Race: a social construction, “races” are not pure. Markers like skin colour or hair are inherited independently Racist ideologies: racial categories are natural genetic groupings, with behavioural characteristics. Racist ideas have been challenged and are weakening. Groups have been disadvantaged by racist stereotypes. Minority Groups Minority Group: a category that occupies a subordinate rank in a social hierarchy. May outnumber a dominant group Social control: Expulsion: forcible removal, e.g., First Nations Genocide: intentional massacre Discrimination: denying opportunities available to members of dominant groups (cont’d) Minority Groups (cont’d) Systemic discrimination: by-product of ordinary functioning of social institutions, not action by individuals, e.g., height requirements Segregation: physical distance is maintained to ensure social distance, e.g., separation of ethnic groups in cities, though people can also get employment, social support, and cultural maintenance from their own ethnic groups Explaining Discrimination Prejudice: attitudes to individuals because of characteristics assumed to be shared Stereotypes: mental images that exaggerate perceived undesirable traits of some members of a group applied to all members of a minority group Due to being a part of learned culture Teachings of parents, teachers, and others Mass media (cont’d) Explaining Discrimination (cont’d) Connection between prejudice and discrimination: Relationship is very complex A prejudiced person may not discriminate Majority attitudes are becoming more tolerant Aboriginal people and some visible minority immigrants are at a great disadvantage Race and Ethnic Relations in Canadian Society Colonialism: invading people dominate an indigenous population. British and French first sought help from First Nations, then sought their land for settlers. Numbers of First Nations people declined drastically and some signed treaties, surrendering their lands for reservations: registered/status Indians. Indian Act does not apply to non-status Indians, Metis or Inuit people. (cont’d) Race and Ethnic Relations in Canadian Society (cont’d) Land claims are being negotiated, e.g., Nunavut became a third territory for some Inuit. 50% of status Indians live on reserves, generally in an impoverished state. 50% live in urban centres with disadvantage, but many are integrating into mainstream society. French and British Canadians Called two charter groups, also two solitudes. Treaty of Paris (1763) gave British control. 1969 Official Languages Act: French language in federal civil services, and some services in French 1960s Quiet Revolution led to development and elections of Parti Quebecois (first 1976) led to French as official language and out-migration of English-speaking population. Currently there is an increased ethnic and racial diversity in the Quebec population due to immigration New Issue: Relationship between Francophone majority and “other ethnic groups” in Quebec Other Ethnic Groups Early 1900s, British, Americans, Ukrainians, and others from central Europe went to the West. Mid-1900s, Southern Europeans came to cities. Now 75% of all immigrants go to cities, principally Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. 80% of them are from Asia Since 1970s, policies stress education and occupational skills Perspectives on Relations Assimilationism: diversity will decline over time. Park’s race relations cycle: Contact Competition, if resources are limited Accommodation of weaker groups Assimilation However, distinctions may be maintained when characteristics are highly visible. (cont’d) Perspectives on Relations (cont’d) Acculturation: learning culture of dominant group, but may not be assimilated into the social structure Structural assimilation: acceptance of primary relationships with the dominant group. Blacks and Aboriginals were not assimilating. Employment equity: to increase the representation of disadvantaged groups; Aboriginal peoples, visible minorities, women, and people with disabilities (cont’d) Perspectives on Relations (cont’d) Pluralism and Multiculturalism: ethnic diversity remains a central feature of contemporary society. Both assimilation and ethnic differentiation are going on simultaneously. Many ethnic group members improve their positions by group efforts, ethnic solidarity as resource. 1971 Trudeau announced “multiculturalism within a bicultural society.” (cont’d) Perspectives on Relations (cont’d) Post-colonial and post-modern perspectives themes: Be skeptical and attempt to “deconstruct” or de-mystify claims of those with power; Study of experience of colonizer and colonized Struggle against domination brings understanding Variety of experience and constant change is central to lives of immigrants How are ideas constructed and controlled and by whom Stresses relativism, universal truth is impossible. Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master subtitle style * * * Chapter 8 Race and Ethnic Relations Introduction Canada has always been a place of great diversity. For thousands of years by First Nations By 1867, British 60%, French 31%, Others 8% By 2001, English 20%, 16% Irish, French 16%, 14% Scottish, Aboriginal 4% Visible minorities 13% Porter called Canada a vertical mosaic; ethnicity as well as class is a source of inequality The Local Ethnic Community Institutional completeness: degree to which an ethnic population develops a strong sense of solidarity and ethnic identity and a self-sufficient range of ethnic institutions. Occupational specialization: building a secure niche in the economic structure. Members may share more than culture, also economic and political interests, e.g., Italians in construction, many East Asians are entrepreneurs. But limited opportunities and discrimination could result. (cont’d) The Local Ethnic Community (cont’d) Immigrants comprise a high percentage of Canadian society and a very high percentage of some cities. Chain migration: sequential movement of persons from a common place of origin to a common destination, with the assistance of those there. Immigration policies in Canada have the objectives of: family reunification—27% (in 2001) safe haven for refugees—11% economic benefits to our society—61%. Table 8.1 Ethnic Group An ascribed status, conferred at birth Form of social organization with boundaries maintained by social norms governing interaction e.g., endogamy: marriage within the group A subculture; some emphasize it more than others A focus of identity, a sense of belonging with others, children may experience conflict Race and Minority Group Inherited physical traits may become socially defined as very significant. Social category: a collection of individuals who share a trait(s) regarded as meaningful. Social meaning can include the assignment of a rank: subordinate or superordinate. Category may have little common, but they may become a social group, e.g., First Nations. (cont’d) Race and Minority Group (cont’d) Race: a social construction, “races” are not pure. Markers like skin colour or hair are inherited independently Racist ideologies: racial categories are natural genetic groupings, with behavioural characteristics. Racist ideas have been challenged and are weakening. Groups have been disadvantaged by racist stereotypes. Minority Groups Minority Group: a category that occupies a subordinate rank in a social hierarchy. May outnumber a dominant group Social control: Expulsion: forcible removal, e.g., First Nations Genocide: intentional massacre Discrimination: denying opportunities available to members of dominant groups (cont’d) Minority Groups (cont’d) Systemic discrimination: by-product of ordinary functioning of social institutions, not action by individuals, e.g., height requirements Segregation: physical distance is maintained to ensure social distance, e.g., separation of ethnic groups in cities, though people can also get employment, social support, and cultural maintenance from their own ethnic groups Explaining Discrimination Prejudice: attitudes to individuals because of characteristics assumed to be shared Stereotypes: mental images that exaggerate perceived undesirable traits of some members of a group applied to all members of a minority group Due to being a part of learned culture Teachings of parents, teachers, and others Mass media (cont’d) Explaining Discrimination (cont’d) Connection between prejudice and discrimination: Relationship is very complex A prejudiced person may not discriminate Majority attitudes are becoming more tolerant Aboriginal people and some visible minority immigrants are at a great disadvantage Race and Ethnic Relations in Canadian Society Colonialism: invading people dominate an indigenous population. British and French first sought help from First Nations, then sought their land for settlers. Numbers of First Nations people declined drastically and some signed treaties, surrendering their lands for reservations: registered/status Indians. Indian Act does not apply to non-status Indians, Metis or Inuit people. (cont’d) Race and Ethnic Relations in Canadian Society (cont’d) Land claims are being negotiated, e.g., Nunavut became a third territory for some Inuit. 50% of status Indians live on reserves, generally in an impoverished state. 50% live in urban centres with disadvantage, but many are integrating into mainstream society. French and British Canadians Called two charter groups, also two solitudes. Treaty of Paris (1763) gave British control. 1969 Official Languages Act: French language in federal civil services, and some services in French 1960s Quiet Revolution led to development and elections of Parti Quebecois (first 1976) led to French as official language and out-migration of English-speaking population. Currently there is an increased ethnic and racial diversity in the Quebec population due to immigration New Issue: Relationship between Francophone majority and “other ethnic groups” in Quebec Other Ethnic Groups Early 1900s, British, Americans, Ukrainians, and others from central Europe went to the West. Mid-1900s, Southern Europeans came to cities. Now 75% of all immigrants go to cities, principally Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. 80% of them are from Asia Since 1970s, policies stress education and occupational skills Perspectives on Relations Assimilationism: diversity will decline over time. Park’s race relations cycle: Contact Competition, if resources are limited Accommodation of weaker groups Assimilation However, distinctions may be maintained when characteristics are highly visible. (cont’d) Perspectives on Relations (cont’d) Acculturation: learning culture of dominant group, but may not be assimilated into the social structure Structural assimilation: acceptance of primary relationships with the dominant group. Blacks and Aboriginals were not assimilating. Employment equity: to increase the representation of disadvantaged groups; Aboriginal peoples, visible minorities, women, and people with disabilities (cont’d) Perspectives on Relations (cont’d) Pluralism and Multiculturalism: ethnic diversity remains a central feature of contemporary society. Both assimilation and ethnic differentiation are going on simultaneously. Many ethnic group members improve their positions by group efforts, ethnic solidarity as resource. 1971 Trudeau announced “multiculturalism within a bicultural society.” (cont’d) Perspectives on Relations (cont’d) Post-colonial and post-modern perspectives themes: Be skeptical and attempt to “deconstruct” or de-mystify claims of those with power; Study of experience of colonizer and colonized Struggle against domination brings understanding Variety of experience and constant change is central to lives of immigrants How are ideas constructed and controlled and by whom Stresses relativism, universal truth is impossible.