The Term Minority Group Essay - 1436 Words

The term minority group refers to a subordinate group whose members have significantly less control or power over their lives than members of a dominant or majority group. Edmund Burke states â€Å"In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the cruelest oppressions upon the minority†. These simple words sum up the conflicts of every minority group throughout our time. A minority group shares a common set of social practices which are recognized from within the group and by others outside the group. Sociology is a social science involving the study of social lives of people, groups and societies. It studies our behavior as social beings, and covers everything from the analysis of short contacts between individuals, including history, psychology and economics. Sociology is rooted from the writings of Auguste Comte a French philosopher who was best known for his support of â€Å"positivism†. Comte created a unified philosophy about human behavior to limit human suffering. One example of sociological method and theory is W.E.B Du Bois and Philadelphia’s â€Å"Negro Problems† who used demographic data and personal interviews to show that the black community was perceived as a source of crime and poverty due to the policies of society. Data collected through sociology consists of two methods quantitative which often collects data through surveys and questionnaires. The second method is qualitative which encompasses personal interviews and ethnographic data collectedShow MoreRelated Asian Americans as Model Minorities Essay630 Words   |  3 PagesModel Minorities For 20 years, Asian Americans have been portrayed by the press and the media as a successful minority. Asian Americans are believed to benefit from astounding achievements in education, rising occupational statuses, increasing income, and are problem-fee in mental health and crime. The idea of Asian Americans as a model minority has become the central theme in media portrayal of Asian Americans since the middle 1960s. The term model minority is given to a minority group that exhibitsRead MoreAfrican Americans And Asian Americans1421 Words   |  6 PagesModel Minority has become a frequently used terms to categorize other cultures and systemize their relationship to the rest of the world. Defined properly, model minority refers to â€Å"minority groups that have rates of socio-economic assimilation and achieved a high level of success in today’s western society. The term has been used most often to describe Asian Americans, group seen as having attained economic and educati on success at significantly higher rates than that of other minority groups. AlthoughRead MoreRace And Ethnicity1131 Words   |  5 PagesDiscussion question number one asks to â€Å"Explain the origin of race and its implications for race and crime.† Discussion question number two asks â€Å"Do you believe there are distinct races?† I will also provide perspective on issues surrounding the term â€Å"minorities†. Today, social scientists refer to race as a â€Å"social construct† and there is no shortage of definitions that refer to race as a social construct. (Gabbidon Greene, 2013, p.2) â€Å"Race and ethnicity are social constructions because their meaningsRead MoreEthnic identites Essay1533 Words   |  7 Pagesrelates to the fact of belonging to a certain human group, as defined by anthropological and cultural features. With such a wide meaning, the word and its derivative â€Å"ethnicity† raise issues as to their definition: there is no universally agreed definition on the term ethnicity. â€Å"Ethnicity refers to a group or community that is assumed to share common cultural practices and history. Religion, language and territory are all included in the term ethnicity† (Kath Woodward, 2004, p 124). As such, theRead MoreAn Analysis Of The Model Minority Stereotype1676 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of the Model Minority Stereotype INTRODUCTION According to the 2010 United States Census, those that identify as Asian numbered more than 14 million people, approximately 4.8% of the entire United States population (SOURCE). Despite or perhaps due to being a relatively small population, Asian Americans are not exempt from stereotyping. While a stereotype does not technically have positive or negative connotations and is simply a widely held generalization of a particular group of people, theyRead MoreThe Muted Group Theory Of The World Of Communication1627 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract Muted Group Theory is essentially one group being subdued from another dominant group. The most prevalent example throughout society has been men and women, men being the dominant figure, and women being mute. The Muted Group Theory is one that explains why women or other minorities feel more constrained and obligated to conform to dominant figures. In the world of communication, men seem to have more influence over women especially in linguistics. Not only is language an important aspectRead MoreGiving People A Vote Does Not Mean That A State Would Have A Government?1538 Words   |  7 Pagesanswer for centuries. Answers might vary from having all civil liberties to a model in which every person’s rights is protected and independent to a model that ensures equality. McKinnon (2012), believes that â€Å"Democracy refers generally to a method group decision-making that is characterised by a kind of equality among the participants at an essential age. Does the world have a dem ocratic government that encompasses all of those answers? no. However, they all share one principle; the right to voteRead MoreSocial Injustice: Invisibility and Suppression Among Minorities1254 Words   |  6 Pagesamong minority groups in the United States. The literature provided in the Heath Anthology reflects minority citizens like African Americans, Hispanics, and women. American literature during the 20th century serves as a critical lens to examine the social injustices faced by minority groups. Minority artists use literature to examine and redefine their pre-determined role in society. The critically acclaimed African American scholar, W.E.B. DuBois, contends the strife of minority groups (specificallyRead MoreDiscrimination And Unequal Rights Within Society1198 Words   |  5 Pagesfall upon a certain group in society. Depending on what race they are defines what group they fall under. Two groups that ranks race are the minority (subordinate) group and the majority (dominant) group. Subordinate groups are recognized by their lack of opportunities when it comes to education and wealth, as well as control such as voting, positions of authority, and other privileges that are easily obtainable by the dominant group. Five characteristics also distinguish minorities. Prejudice and unequalRead MoreRace And Ethnicity Are Affected By Stratification938 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstand race and ethnicity in its self. Many people including me before I took this class thought they were the same thing. Racial groups are a group that is socially set apart because of obvious ph ysical differences. An example of this is I come from Somalia but in the United States my race would be defined as black or African American. Ethnicity or ethnic groups are groups set apart from others because of its national origin or distinctive cultural patterns. An example of this is although my race is