ipl-logo

The Sociological Theories Of Racism

258 Words2 Pages

The study of racism has a profound potential to become an ambiguous sociological endeavor. Incidentally, accounting for the multitude of factors which encompass this subject appear to make it the very heart of the matter and consequently the most time consuming. Although, it is my belief that all three of the main sociological theories (Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism) should be integrated in order to achieve a legitimate and quantifiable outcome, for obvious reasons the “Conflict Theory” logically renders the best possible method to obtain a valid micro analysis of specific agents in this case. The oxford dictionary defines racism as being: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior; a belief that all members of each race possesses characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. (Oxford Dictionary) …show more content…

Essentially, these forms relate to a struggle for power and resources, one side being the oppressed and the other the oppressor. As racism holds unfounded bias, prejudice and discrimination within its core ideologies, the conflict theory undoubtedly supplies the best approach to obtaining a general conception of the effects racism has on society. Compared to functionalism or symbolic interactionism, the conflict theory addresses the exploitation of groups, ultimately making it the best course of action to begin a rational

Show More
Related
846 Words | 4 Pages

The major thesis in this book, are broken down into two components. The first is how we define racism, and the impact that definition has on how we see and understand racism. Dr. Beverly Tatum chooses to use the definition given by “David Wellman that defines racism as a system of advantages based on race” (1470). This definition of racism helps to establish Dr. Tatum’s theories of racial injustice and the advantages either willingly or unwillingly that white privilege plays in our society today. The second major thesis in this book is the significant role that a racial identity has in our society.

Read More
2034 Words | 9 Pages

Racism has been present in society since forever, maybe even the very first day that two men of different races met. Racism is defined as “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.” Usually racism is a belief that a person with a certain race has better abilities,  attributes and skills. If this belief is to distinguish as superior it can have tragic events occurring between two types of groups. An example of two types of groups that have separated into an image of rivalries fueled with competition are the ‘Whites’ and the ‘Indians’, as shown in the novel Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, where the devastating effects of racism and discrimination are evident in the protagonist Saul Indian Horse, for his spirit is nearly broken all together by them, most notable in how he was forced to live in a cruel Residential school, he endured taunting in the hockey world, and bullying in the work force, affecting a lifelong struggle with severe depression and alcoholism.

Read More
552 Words | 3 Pages

Social problems are described as a social condition that disrupts or damages a society. Racism is a social problem that has been about for centuries in America. It wasn’t until the late 20th century that racism and discrimination no longer became an acceptable way of thinking publicly. There is documentary on Netflix titled “Hate Crimes in the Heartland” this documentary shows just how prevalent racism is in the 21st century as it was in the 20th century. The documentary covered two hate crimes that took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma almost 90 years apart from one another.

Read More
703 Words | 3 Pages

In the essay, “A Genealogy of Modern Racism”, the author Dr. Cornel West discusses racism in depth, while conveying why whites feel this sense of superiority. We learn through his discussion that whites have been forced to treat black harshly due to the knowledge that was given to them about the aesthetics of beauty and civility. This knowledge that was bestowed on the whites in the modern West, taught them that they were superior to all races tat did not emulate the norms of whites. According to Dr. West the very idea that blacks were even human beings is a concept that was a “relatively new discovery of the modern West”, and that equality of beauty, culture, and intellect in blacks remains problematic and controversial in intellectual circles

Read More
103 Words | 1 Pages

Conflict theory has been used to describe the discrepancies in power and distribution of resources among the dominate group and the subordinate groups. Racial inequalities and racism among the groups has played a big role in the concept of conflict theory. Conflict theory examines the rising conflict between the dominate group, or white ruling class, and racial minorities, such as African Americans. This conflict and inequality among the races may be a reason why 20.2 percent of African American males die by homicide. In fact, African Americans are six times as likely as whites to be killed by homicide.

Read More
377 Words | 2 Pages

The differences between institutional racism and individual racism are stark and clearly defined. Institutional racism is prejudice on a large a scale, usually in regard to a company or institution. It’s not hard to find examples of institutional, the United States government provides man different instances for consideration. Segregation is a huge example of intuitional racism, as there were many laws put in place with the purpose of keeping ethnic groups, aside from white people, from getting opportunities to obtain power or social standing. More recently the war on drugs was a political policy put in place in order to target specific ethnic groups.

Read More
668 Words | 3 Pages

There are people that exist today that were raised into holding a racist opinion on different ethnic groups. Through the symbolic interactionism perspective, racism can be resolved. Racism formed many years ago due to people interacting and sharing opinions about others. From the first day a person is born, they begin to adapt to their social worlds around them, beginning with their family. A persons’ family is the first social world they are exposed to for a majority of their lifetime.

Read More
914 Words | 4 Pages

“ According to the National Association of Social Workers Web site, racism is “the ideology or practice through demonstrated power or perceived superiority of one group over others by reasons of race, color, ethnicity, or cultural heritage....” The definition further goes on to note that “racism is manifested at the individual, group, and institutional level.” (Blank, 2013) Despite how much time has passed by, racism continues to be a huge issue today. We see it every day, some have even been confronted by racial discrimination, or racial slurs even. We see how the system could be for example: how blacks continue to get more severe punishments or blacks have higher the chance to get criminally sentenced than whites.

Read More
1489 Words | 6 Pages

The relationship between race and racism is due to the fact that there are racial categories created, in order for particular social groups to be on top of the hierarchy. For example, the white group, which is on top of this racial hierarchy, established the notion of race in order to benefit themselves, which has led to racism among other minority groups. The ideology of a group being superior than others leads to racism. Ultimately, race is the product of racism, and racism is not the product of race (25).

Read More
1180 Words | 5 Pages

Racism Trough Discourse Analysis Analyzing racism and gender discrimination in a white/black society discourse and its' reproduction in white elite culture. Based on educational researchers that consider racism discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior in characteristics, abilities and qualities. As defining discourse concept that spoken is written communications that provides a big supporting filed of racism application, beside the structure of text on minorities of words, mental, socio-cultural , politics, effects or function. The discrimination defines the unjust treatment of different categories of people through races, ages, sex, etc... . In addition, white elite is

Read More
1350 Words | 6 Pages

Racism plays a large role in dividing entire groups of people and most of the time, the racism comes from stereotypes and assumptions made of each other. One example of insensitivity and divisiveness when maintaining stereotypes is when someone starts asking questions about the said stereotype to another who is affected by it. Such as if a white man goes up to an Asian girl to get help with math because ‘all asians are good at math’. These kind of stereotypes are very insensitive towards others. An example of racism that proves that society is oblivious to how people of ‘other’ backgrounds are treated is the pay and job gap.

Read More
1537 Words | 7 Pages

Racism Racism is the conviction that qualities and capacities can be credited to individuals basically on the premise of their race and that some racial gatherings are better than others. Bigotry and separation have been utilized as capable weapons empowering apprehension or disdain of others in times of contention and war, and notwithstanding amid monetary downturns. Racism is also a very touchy subject for some people, as issues concerning free speech and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights come into play. Some people argue that talking about supporting racial discrimination and prejudice is just words and that free speech should allow such views to be aired without restriction. Others point out that these words can lead to some very dire and serious consequences (the Nazi government policies being one example).

Read More
791 Words | 4 Pages

Racism, the act of “…prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race…”, is a major problem today. It gives people fear, doubt, shame, and sometimes guilt. In addition, racism gives people an awful perspective of life and sometimes, if one is looking up to a racist, the racist’s point of view begins to alter the person’s judgement. Racism could also lead to great conflict arising from those who heavily despise that race and maybe even mass killings, which foreshows that racism needs to be stopped and ended completely.

Read More
1198 Words | 5 Pages

Racism: a curse for the society INTRODUCTION:- "Racism is an ideology that gives expression to myths about other racial and ethnic groups that devalues and renders inferior those groups that reflects and is perpetuated by deeply rooted historical, social, cultural and power inequalities in society." Racism is one of the oldest truth around the world .Racism, is said to be as old as the human society. Racism is nothing but only the belief that all members of each race possess the characteristics, abilities, or qualities which are specific to that race, especially, so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. And this differentiation change the people’s mentality and bring death among themselves.

Read More
1992 Words | 8 Pages

Racism is an ever growing issue in the world, and something we can’t hide behind. According to dictionary.com the defintion of racism is: “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.” Race was created socially by how people perceive ideas and faces people are not used to yet. It is the “hatred” of one person to another individual, solely based on that person's belief that the person is inferior because of their language, birthplace and skin colour. Racism is an issue that has lasted throughout history, providing justification for a group’s dominance over another.

Read More

More about The Sociological Theories Of Racism

Open Document