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RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE (continued):Inter-group Relations

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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Lesson 35
RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE (continued)
The Complex Nature of Human Variations
The actual patterns of biological variation among humans are extremely complex and constantly
changing.They can also be deceptive. All of us could be classified into a number of different "races",
depending on what genetic traits are emphasized.
For example, if you divide people up on the basis of stature or blood types, the geographic groupings are
clearly different from those defined on the basis of skin color. Using the B blood type for defining races,
Australian Aborigines could be lumped together with most Native Americans. Some Africans would be in
the same race as Europeans while others would be categorized with Asians.
Historically, human "races" have been defined on the basis of a small number of superficial anatomical
characteristics that can be readily identified at a distance, thereby making discrimination easier.
However, focusing on such deceptive distinguishing traits as skin color, body shape, and hair texture causes
us to magnify differences and ignore similarities between people.
It is also important to remember that these traits are no more accurate in making distinctions between
human groups than any other genetically inherited characteristics. All such attempts to scientifically divide
humanity into biological races have proven fruitless.
Relevance of Nurture
In the final analysis, it is clear that people, not nature, create our identities. Ethnicity and supposed "racial"
groups are largely cultural and historical constructs. They are primarily social rather than biological
phenomena. This does not mean that they do not exist.
To the contrary, "races" are very real in the world today. In order to understand them, however, we must
look into culture and social interaction rather than biological evolution.
Inter-group Relations
How ethnic and racial groups relate to each other can be viewed as a continuum ranging from cooperation
to outright exploitation and hostility.
·
Pluralism: Two or more groups living in harmony while retaining their own heritage and identity
·
Assimilation: when one racial or ethnic minority is absorbed into the wider society. Pacific
Islanders assimilation into Hawaiian society provides a good example of assimilation.
·
Legal Protection of Minorities: While such legislation cannot ensure that minorities have equal
rights, they provide a measure of security against blatant forms of prejudice and discrimination.
·
Population Transfer: physical removal of minority to another location. The ethnic Tutsi fleeing
Rwanda to avoid prosecution by the Hutu government is an example of population transfer.
·
Long-termed Subjugation: Political, social and economic suppression evident in political history.
The example of the black majority's subjugation in South Africa under apartheid is a recent
example from history.
·
Genocide: Mass annihilation of groups of people in Nazi Germany or in Serbia for example.
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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Useful Terms
Exploitation ­ take undue advantage of another's weakness
Subjugation ­ political or social suppression
Prosecution ­ to accuse or take legal action against an individual or a group
Minority ­ a group with a lesser population in comparison to another groups within the same are
Suggested Readings
Students are advised to read the following chapters to develop a better understanding of the various
principals highlighted in this hand-out:
Chapter 13 in `Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective' by Ferrarro
Internet Resources
In addition to reading from the textbook, please visit the following web-site for this lecture, which provide
useful and interesting information:
Ethnicity and Race
http://anthro.palomar.edu/ethnicity/default.htm
Ethnicity and Nationalism: Anthropological Perspectives
http://folk.uio.no/geirthe/Ethnicity.html
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Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?:Cultural Anthropology, Internet Resources
  2. THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE AND THE APPLICATION OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
  3. MAJOR THEORIES IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Diffusionism
  4. GROWTH OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY (continued):Post Modernism
  5. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Comments on Fieldwork
  6. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):Census Taking
  7. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD
  8. ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES
  9. FOCUSING ON LANGUAGE:Languages of the World, Structure of Language
  10. FOCUS ON LANGUAGE (continued):Levels of Complexity, Cultural Emphasis
  11. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURES:Optimal Foraging, Suggested Readings
  12. FOOD AND CULTURE (continued):Food Collectors, Food Production
  13. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURE (continued):Pastoralism, Agriculture
  14. RELEVANCE OF KINSHIP AND DESCENT:Kinship Criteria, Rules of Descent
  15. KINSHIP AND DESCENT (continued):Tracing Descent, Primary Kinship Systems
  16. THE ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE:Economic Aspect of Marriage
  17. ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE (continued):Family Structures
  18. GENDER AND CULTURE:Gender Stratification, Suggested Readings
  19. GENDER ROLES IN CULTURE (continued):Women Employment, Feminization of Poverty
  20. STRATIFICATION AND CULTURE:Social Ranking, Dimensions of Inequality
  21. THEORIES OF STRATIFICATION (continued):The Functionalists, Conflict Theorists
  22. CULTURE AND CHANGE:Inventions, Diffusion, Donor, Conventional
  23. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Cultural Interrelations, Reaction to Change
  24. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Planned Change, Globalization
  25. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION:Bands, Tribal Organizations, Chiefdoms
  26. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):State Systems, Nation-States
  27. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):Social Norms, Informal Mechanisms
  28. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE:Emotional Development, Psychological Universals
  29. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE (continued):Origin of Customs, Personality Types
  30. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE:Ideology in Everyday Life, Hegemony
  31. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE (Continued):Political ideologies, Economic Ideology
  32. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES:Variation in Associations, Age Sets
  33. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES (continued):Formation of Associations
  34. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE:Similarity in Human Adaptations
  35. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE (continued):Inter-group Relations
  36. CULTURE AND BELIEFS:Social Function of Religion, Politics and Beliefs
  37. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE:Changing Definitions of Local Knowledge
  38. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (continued):The Need for Caution
  39. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT:Influence of Development Notions
  40. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Contentions in Development
  41. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Operational
  42. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART:Relevance of Art, Art and Politics
  43. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART (continued):Art as a Status Symbol
  44. ETHICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY:Ethical Condemnation, Orientalism
  45. RELEVANCE OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Ensuring Cultural Survival