ETHNICITY AND RACE

Who are we?

Where do you come from? Do people ever ask you where you are

from?

INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES Unless you are an indigenous person

everyone on this land has an immigration story What does it therefore mean to be an

Australian? Journey of leaving home land – arrival and

experience Process of feeling on the “outter” when you are

new and feeling different Leaving, journey and arrival Identity – what does it mean to be an

Australian in a culturally diverse Australia? How do we honour the presence of ourselves

in this place? The complexity of building Australian society

Immigration museum – identity and belonging Go onto ethnicity tab – Pauline Hanson,

John Howard Speech, white pickett fence how can words and speeches be used as tools for both inclusion and exclusion?

What do race and ethnicity mean? Use a range of sources such as a

dictionary, encyclopaedia and the internet to examine different definitions of race and ethnicity; consider how the definitions have changed over time and the preferable definitions in sociological study

The difference

RACE • Physical characteristics

ETHNICITY

• Socially constructed cultural traits that are seen as important to a society (learnt and passed across generations through process of socialisation

The nature and meaning of the sociological concepts of race and ethnicity

Ethnicity refers to a social group, categorised by a distinctive way of life with set customary values

Race is a socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important such as skin colour and facial features

RACE Scientists introduced concept of race

more than a century ago as a way to assign ethnic groups into racial ‘types’

People were categorised in the following

“relatively light skin and fine hair – CAUCASOID

People with darker hair NIGROID and people with yellow or brownish skin and distinctive folds on their eyelids MONGOLOID”

Sociological terms..

Race refers to an ‘ascribed status’ (a label created by those outside of an ethnic group)

People are considered to be similar because they share common physical features

RACE The types of classification

systems that assigned individuals and groups to categories were ranked or hierarchical

Racial distinctions rather than specific biological differences were used to maintain patterns of power and inequality within society (Giddens et al 2009)

E.g. – the use of Social Darwinist theory to justify the Protection and Segregation policies which has a devastating impact upon Indigenous Australians

RACE Sociologists consider the use of socially-constructed

racial categories to be misleading and harmful Macionis (2010) made the following observations

about the use of racial classifications- The meaning and importance of race varies from

place to place and over time- Societies use racial categories to rank people in a

hierarchy giving some people more money, power and prestige than others

- Despite the creation of broad racial categories, scientific method has established that there are no biological ‘pure’ races

Watch clips on race and ethnicity and how changed over time

Ethnicity

Socially constructed cultural traits that are seen as important to a society

Members of a group can claim an ethnic identity

Or an ethnic category may be assigned to them by others

These characteristics are learnt and passed across generations through the process of socialisation

Member of ethnic groups share a common cultural heritage that they believe identifies them as unique

These cultural features help to distinguish ethnic groups from one another

Common characteristics include:- National origin- Language- Religion- Food- Styles of dress- Sense of common historical heritage

Factors contributing to the formation of ethnicity

Ethnicity

language

Religious

History

Food Customs

Ancestry

Styles of dress

Ethnicity Vs Race

Sociologists prefer to use the concept of ethnicity rather than race BUT

What are the issues related to the study of ethnicity?

What do sociologists need to be aware of?

Ref pg 54-55

Concerns include:

Way an ethnic group sees itself might not correspond

to the way that those outside the group view

them

Ethnic communities often misrepresented as a homogenous group

neglects variations within groups

Ethnic roles are eand may change according to the

setting

The ‘culture’ ethnic groups share is often considered

‘traditional’ and fixed rather than adapting and changing over time

Research and media reporting tend to focus on migrant or minority groups

that have highly visible customs rather than low profile groups

Revision so far..

Complete Activity 3.10 pg 55 Define the concepts of race and

ethnicity Describe the difference between race

and ethnicity When does a person stop being ethnic? Why do sociologists need to be careful

about the label of ethnicity when conducting research?

Reading

Consider what are the main points of the article

What is it saying about race and ethnicity?

Smiling faces mask an unease about growing ethnic diversity.docx

ready to confront your own racism - article.pdf

pride dosent run skin deep article.pdf

Key concepts

Ethnocentrism

Cultural relativism

The “other”

My culture and beliefs are the best. I have the tendency to measure all other cultures in relation to my own

I try to understand others and not judge! I attempt to understand a cultures behaviour, customs, religion and language in terms of that cultures set of norms

The ‘other’ Refers to the “not self” Human societies have needed

a “them” and “us” as a means to stress the values and characteristics seen as normal

This then acts as a guide for social rules and norms

Categorisation of groups as the “other” is shaped by and measured against the “self”

VS

The concept of the “self” is a reflection of the dominant core (centre) of society

From an Australian perspective the self is viewed as white Anglo-Celtic culture.

The beliefs and cultural practices of the dominant culture are reflected in range of social systems such as political institutions, the media and the workplace

Notion of “otherness” – has been applied to many ethnic groups within Australian society.

Such as Asians in the 1900s and more recently to individuals and communities who practice the Islamic faith

Is it the belief that ‘others’ are those who don’t speak English as a first language or who have values and beliefs that are different to ‘Aussie’ culture (e.g. playing sport, participating in beach culture, BBQ’s and Christianity)

This is of course not a true reflection of values shared by the vast majority of Australians

It is a good example though of how groups seek to label cultural differences as abnormal and threatening

See Cronulla riots!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYiAAxZWyys

A good exam response Multiculturalism, the coexistence of many cultures in parallel facilitated

by overarching respect for societal institutions, shows the meaning and potential of national culture. Australia was originally a

monoculture, a society in which there is a dominant system of social heritage and learned patterns of thinking, feeling and

acting with the expectation that minorities would assimilate to the dominant set of physical and cultural characteristics.

This was embodied through its White Australia Policy and within that the Immigration Restriction Act, which imposed a dictation

test that would deny, unwanted migrants access to Australia. Australia transitioned over time to a ‘multicultural society’ that

is united by ‘respect for each other, our culture of a fair go, our spirit of equality and our humane commitment to those in

strife’. This explains how cultures have the potential to evolve as a society … exemplified by Usman Khawaja’s achievement of

becoming ‘the first Muslim to represent Australia’

National culture refers to the physical characteristics of a nation including: language, lifestyle, events and icons. A controversial

aspect of Australian national culture is multiculturalism, and whether we can manage to have a unifying national culture … As

sociologist, Hugh McKay believes, Australia is a young nation, one which is constantly evolving … Despite racial disparity, the

growth of knowledge and understanding that comes with meeting people from differing backgrounds rewards Australia with a

unifying national culture … Australia [embracing] ‘Harmony Day’ which occurs annually, [reflects that we] embrace diversity

as we are a nation of equality of opportunity for all. [This diversity can present challenges, such as, racism, including]

… the 2005 Cronulla Riots where anyone who did not look ‘Australian’ was targeted and bashed, and the recent attacks on

Indian students in Melbourne.

“You’re in Australia…Speak ENGLISH, “Aussie Pride!!!” LOVE IT OR GET OUT!! “learn the Aussie language, Respect our way of life, ITS NOT HARD!!”

Watch racism in Australia – like a disease - SBS

YOUR TASK:

Complete Activity 3.11: Cyber Racism within Australia

And 3.12 pg 58

What is the representation suggesting?

Pauline Hanson

The nature and theory of ethnic hybridity – STUART HALL

Stuart Hall – cultural theorist and sociologist

Ethnic hybridity – concept used to describe the experience of people who have multiple ethnic identities

E.g. Greek Australian children who have on set of cultural experiences within their homes and local communities and an entirely different identity within their schools

HYBRIDITY

New cultural forms resulting from a mixture of two or more cultural influences

It is common amongst young refugees and second or third generation migrants

These multiple identities reflect the idea that the concept of ethnicity is both temporary and evolving

See Greek interview ..\Sociology university greek

interview.doc

HALL

Hall suggests hybridity involves a process where individuals develop connections across cultural groups

People identify with and choose elements of more than one culture that then form a blended ethnic identity

BHABHA’S THEORY

Bhabha’s theory is informed by the experiences of second generation migrants

He describes ethnic hybridity as being a position of “in-between”

This period of “in-between” relates to the shift from identification with one culture until the complete assimilation into another

http://museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/identity/people-like-me/

People Like Me Image: Tony Lewis

Source: ABC Desperately wanting to assimilate as a child migrant, I shed

everything that made me feel different in my new country. In my 30s I realised that food is the vehicle that can help me keep in touch with my past and have something to hand on to the future, whether it be children or fellow Australians. It is a way I can still bond with the generations before me, even with the loss of traditional values and language.Poh Ling Yeow, Cook, TV Presenter, Artist, 2011We know when we belong. We can see ourselves reflected in others. It might be a community or internet group. It might even be a nation.

Fitting in with other people may not be easy. We start searching. We may need to invent our own club. We seek opportunities to connect with others.

Why do we need to belong? Who do you belong with?

I belong do you? Museum Victoria http://museumvictoria.com.au/immigratio

nmuseum/discoverycentre/identity/about-the-exhibition/

Postcards - http://museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/identity/i-belong-postcards/

Experiences of Hybridity

Zuleka Zevallos (2003) interviewed young Latin-American women living in Australia and observed that to some degree their ethnicity was selective.

The young women had the option of seeing themselves as Latin-American or Australian and at times both

example of multiple ethnic identities

Sometimes their expressions of their Latin American self were displayed for example through dance, food and dress

There were also times when the women were happy to embrace their Australian identity, particularly when themes of gender relations or sexuality were involved – they preferred to engage with the Australian values of equality and indepndence

Not all ethnic groups are able to move freely between cultural identities

Waters (1990) notes that while people of European decent in American society are able to celebrate their ethnic identities others faced a “socially enforced racial identity” – often a society attaches a label to an ethnic group and that group then finds it difficult if not impossible to challenge

Challenges young people face Young Australian migrants face particular

challenges as they adjust to a new culture and form adult identities

Some young people struggle to balance their parents/communities expectations of them with the values of their peers and wider society

This is often called “caught between culture”

CREATION OF CONFLICT

The experience of cultural adjustment often generates conflict between young people and their families

This originates from families placing a great deal of importance on cultural maintenance, but at the same time expecting young people to succeed in mainstream society

RESPONSES BY YOUNG PEOPLE

According to Berry there are 4 common responses by young people to this pressure

1. Assimilation – adopt new culture and reject old culture

2. Withdrawal – they reject new culture and preserve of exaggerate old culture

3. Marginalisation – reject both old and new cultures

4. Integration or biculturalism – maintain important aspects of their old culture while also adopting parts of their new culture

Complete Activity 3.13 pg 60

Australia’s ethnic diversity compared with other developed countries

AUSTRALIA’s DIVERSITY

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISION

DOWNLOAD FACE THE FACTS AND COMPARE THE TWO – see pg 61 for website