Eth 125 Final Essay Example

not cover the story based on the person’s race or ethnicity; it is simply because it is such an unusual story. A few of the similarities between me and others who are in leadership positions in my community are we all American citizens, all of us work hard for the things we have, and are family and community oriented. A few of the differences between me and others who are in leadership positions in my community are members in leadership positions are of a different ethnicity and race than me, some of the members of leadership are female, and members in leadership positions make more money than me.

One inequity within my community and the United States as well, that I would like to see changed is the amount of government assistance each race and ethnic group receive. I do not have a problem with the government helping African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, or any other immigrant group because the government feels these groups are the minority. It seems like the other ethnic groups get help from the government prior to the white Americans.

However, the white American population is quickly becoming the minority and I feel as a white American I am entitled to the same government assistance that the other groups are receiving.

The main concepts from the text that relate to race are subordinate groups and segregation. Subordinate groups are minority groups whose members have significantly less control or power over their own lives than do the members of a dominant or majority group. These subordinate groups then are, categorized as racial groups, religious groups, ethnic groups, and gender groups.

All

of these groups have five characteristics, which include unequal treatment, distinguishing physical or cultural traits, involuntary membership, awareness of subordination, and in-group marriage (Wagley and Harris 1958): 1.

Members of a minority experience unequal treatment and have less power over their lives than members of a dominant group have over theirs. Prejudice, discrimination, segregation, and even extermination create this social inequality. 2. Members of a minority group share physical or cultural characteristics that distinguish them from the dominant group, such as skin color or language.

Each society has its own arbitrary standard for determining, which characteristics are most important in defining dominant and minority groups.

3. Membership in a dominant or minority group is not voluntary: People are born into the group. A person does not choose to be African American or White. 4. Minority-group members have a strong sense of group solidarity.

William Graham Sumner, writing in 1906, noted that people make distinctions between members of their own group (the in-group) and everyone else (the out-group). When a group is the object of long-term prejudice and discrimination, the feeling of “us versus them” often becomes intense. . Members of a minority generally marry others from the same group.

A member of a dominant group often is unwilling to join a supposedly inferior minority by marrying one of its members. In addition, the minority group’s sense of solidarity encourages marriage within the group and discourages marriage to outsiders (Axia). Racial groups are then, defined as any group that is socially set apart because of obvious physical differences. The obvious physical differences differ between different societies. The most obvious physical difference to me and most of

the citizens in the United States is skin color.

Even though many have been taught to classify or judge someone because of the color of their skin, I feel you should classify and judge people by their personality and work ethics. For example, I was in the military and served this country alongside men and women from all different races, but as a child growing up the obvious physical differences that are, pointed out as the color of skin versus how he or she treated me, and the work ethics of his or her parents. If someone is nice to me and treats me with respect, I do not care about the color of their skin.

Ethnic groups are then, defined as groups who are set apart from others because of their national origin or distinctive cultural patterns. The only problem I have with different ethnic groups is when immigrants from certain ethnic groups come to the United States in hope for a better life, but in return are not willing to abide by the laws or work to earn money in order to provide the things they may want or need. If a person from any ethnic background comes to the United States and is willing to work and make a living for his or her family just as I do, I am willing to accept them for who they are not the ethnicity they may be.e.