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Introduction to Sociology 2e

Key Terms

Introduction to Sociology 2eKey Terms

Key Terms

amalgamation
the process by which a minority group and a majority group combine to form a new group
assimilation
the process by which a minority individual or group takes on the characteristics of the dominant culture
colorism
the belief that one type of skin tone is superior or inferior to another within a racial group
culture of prejudice
the theory that prejudice is embedded in our culture
discrimination
prejudiced action against a group of people
dominant group
a group of people who have more power in a society than any of the subordinate groups
ethnicity
shared culture, which may include heritage, language, religion, and more
expulsion
the act of a dominant group forcing a subordinate group to leave a certain area or even the country
genocide
the deliberate annihilation of a targeted (usually subordinate) group
institutional racism
racism embedded in social institutions
intersection theory
theory that suggests we cannot separate the effects of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and other attributes
minority group
any group of people who are singled out from the others for differential and unequal treatment
model minority
the stereotype applied to a minority group that is seen as reaching higher educational, professional, and socioeconomic levels without protest against the majority establishment
pluralism
the ideal of the United States as a “salad bowl:” a mixture of different cultures where each culture retains its own identity and yet adds to the “flavor” of the whole
prejudice
biased thought based on flawed assumptions about a group of people
racial profiling
the use by law enforcement of race alone to determine whether to stop and detain someone
racial steering
the act of real estate agents directing prospective homeowners toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race
racism
a set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that are used to justify the belief that one racial category is somehow superior or inferior to others
redlining
the practice of routinely refusing mortgages for households and business located in predominately minority communities
scapegoat theory
a theory that suggests that the dominant group will displace its unfocused aggression onto a subordinate group
sedimentation of racial inequality
the intergenerational impact of de facto and de jure racism that limits the abilities of black people to accumulate wealth
segregation
the physical separation of two groups, particularly in residence, but also in workplace and social functions
social construction of race
the school of thought that race is not biologically identifiable
stereotypes
oversimplified ideas about groups of people
subordinate group
a group of people who have less power than the dominant group
white privilege
the benefits people receive simply by being part of the dominant group
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