Race, Ethnicity, and Power
Race as a Social Construct
Race and ethnicity
Race is a socially constructed system of classification tied to power, while ethnicity usually refers to shared cultural ancestry, language, or traditions. These categories are socially meaningful because institutions treat them as real.
Institutional racism
Institutional racism occurs when policies, routines, or norms create unequal outcomes across racial groups, even without openly racist intent.
Segregation and stratification
Segregation can arise in housing, schools, jobs, and policing. Once established, it tends to concentrate advantage in some spaces and disadvantage in others.
Which statement best reflects the sociological view of race?
Sociology emphasizes race as socially constructed but socially powerful.
Correct answer: Race is a social classification with real effects
Institutional racism refers to:
It is about systems and outcomes, not just personal attitudes.
Correct answer: Policies and routines that generate unequal outcomes
Give one example of a policy that could produce racial inequality even if it appears neutral.
Neutral-seeming policies can have racially uneven effects through existing segregation.
Correct answer: school zoning
Approaches to racial inequality
Individual prejudice focus
- Looks at biased attitudes
- Can miss structural causes
Structural inequality focus
- Looks at housing, education, and labor markets
- Explains patterned disparities
Important distinction
Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is an action; institutional racism is a patterned system of unequal outcomes.
What is one reason segregation is sociologically important?
Segregation affects access to schools, jobs, networks, and safety.
Correct answer: it concentrates advantage and disadvantage