payment page
Race is a socially constructed classification of people based on perceived physical characteristics such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture.
Ethnicity refers to shared cultural traits, such as language, nationality, and traditions.
Sociologists argue that racial categories are created and maintained by society.
A minority (or subordinate) group is one that experiences systematic disadvantage, discrimination, or unequal treatment based on race, ethnicity, or other characteristics.
A dominant group is one that holds power, privilege, and influence over other groups, often shaping laws, social norms, and economic opportunities.
Scapegoat theory suggests that dominant groups blame marginalized groups for societal problems, typically as a way to redirect frustration and maintain power.
Intersection theory, developed by Kimerlé Crenshaw, examines how race, gender, class, and other social identities overlap and interact to shape individual experiences.
The culture of prejudice refers to how racism and bias become embedded in societal norms, media, and institutions, leading to the normalization of discriminatory beliefs.
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a way of studying how racism is built into laws, policies, and social institutions, rather than just being the result of individual prejudice.
Prejudice refers to biased beliefs or attitudes toward a racial or ethnic group.
Discrimination involves actions that treat people unfairly based on their race.
Racism is a belief system, practice, or social structure that results in the unequal treatment or discrimination of individuals or groups based on their race or ethnicity.
Stereotypes are oversimplified generalized beliefs about racial or ethnic groups, often based on assumption rather than reality.
White privilege refers to unearned advantages that white individuals receive in society due to systemic racial inequalities.
Individual racism occurs between individuals, where one person engages in racial discrimination, prejudice, or harassment toward another.
Systemic racism refers to longstanding racial inequalities that are deeply embedded in institutions such as education, healthcare, and the legal system.
Structural racism is closely related to systemic racism and refers to how laws, policies, and institutions work together to create and maintain racial inequalities.
Institutional racism refers to policies, laws, and practices within institutions (such as schools, workplaces, healthcare, and the legal system) that systematically disadvantage certain racial groups while benefiting others.
Historical racism refers to the lasting effects of past racial injustices that continue to shape society today.
Cultural racism is the belief that some cultures are better or more advanced than others.
Colorblind racism is the idea that ignoring race will eliminate racism.
Racial profiling is when law enforcement, businesses, or other institutions target individuals based on racial stereotypes rather than actual behavior.
The model minority myth is the stereotype that certain racial or ethnic groups—particularly Asian Americans—are naturally more successful, intelligent, and hardworking compared to other minority groups.
Racial steering is the practice of real estate agents guiding homebuyers or renters toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on race.
Segregation refers to the physical and social separation of racial groups, often leading to deep disparities in education, employment, and economic opportunities.
The media plays a powerful role in shaping public perceptions of race and ethnicity.
Agenda setting refers to the way media outlets prioritize certain topics, influencing what the public sees as important.
Racial typecasting is the practice of repeatedly assigning an actor, performer, or individual to a specific role or category based on racial or ethnic stereotypes.
Sociologists study intergroup relations patterns to understand how societies handle racial and ethnic diversity.
Pluralism occurs when racial and ethnic groups maintain their distinct cultural identities while coexisting equally within society.
Assimilation occurs when a minority group adopts the dominant group's culture, norms, and practices, sometimes voluntarily and sometimes under pressure.
Amalgamation refers to the merging of different racial and ethnic groups to create a new, shared cultural identity.
Affirmative action refers to policies designed to increase opportunities for historically marginalized racial groups, particularly in education and employment.
Reparations refer to compensation or policy efforts to address historical racial injustices, such as slavery, segregation, and land dispossession.
Economic inequality remains one of the most visible forms of racial disparity today.
