Question 1

How does Tiger Woods describe his own racial identity?

Accepted Answer

Tiger Woods coined the term "Cablinasian" to describe his mixed racial identity, which includes Caucasian, Black, American Indian, and Asian ancestry.

Question 2

What has modern science determined about racial categories?

Accepted Answer

Modern science has determined that biologically there is no such thing as a pure race. This means that racial categories are socially constructed rather than genetically determined. While there may be genetic differences between populations, these differences are not significant enough to create distinct racial categories. Additionally, there is greater diversity within racial populations than between them, meaning that two individuals within the same racial category may have greater genetic differences than two individuals from different racial categories. Claims about certain racial groups being more intelligent or athletic are not supported by modern science and are typically rooted in racist and discriminatory beliefs.

Question 3

What are the positive consequences of racial and ethnic categories?

Accepted Answer

Racial and ethnic categories can provide people with a sense of identity and belonging, which can lead to feelings of solidarity and social connection. This can be particularly important for people who may face discrimination or marginalization based on their race or ethnicity. Additionally, recognizing and valuing diversity can help to reduce prejudice and promote a more inclusive society.

Question 4

A young person from Southern California has four German grandparents.She lived in Los Angeles all her life before accepting a job in Milwaukee.She has never really thought about her German heritage,but in Milwaukee she discovers many other people with similar ancestries and starts using her ethnicity as a way to develop social and professional relationships.What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Situational ethnicity refers to the practice of emphasizing or downplaying one's ethnic identity depending on the social context, which is what the person is doing by using her German heritage to build relationships in Milwaukee.

Question 5

When whites are less than half the population of any given state,it is called a ________ state.

Accepted Answer

When whites are less than half the population of any given state, it is referred to as a majority-minority state. This term acknowledges that there is no longer a single racial or ethnic group that dominates the population, and that there are multiple groups with significant representation. This term is commonly used in discussions of demographic shifts and the changing face of America. A pluralistic state refers to a society where different cultural groups coexist and maintain their distinct identities. A postmodern state is a more abstract concept that refers to a society that has moved beyond modernist ideas about progress, reason, and order. A minority state does not accurately describe a state with a non-white majority, as minorities are typically defined as less powerful or less numerous groups.

Question 6

In 2010,the Census Bureau allowed Americans to check more than one box when identifying their race.What percentage of the population took advantage of this and identified themselves as multiracial?

Accepted Answer

In the 2010 Census, 2.4 percent of the population identified themselves as multiracial, marking the first time Americans could select more than one race.

Question 7

In Chicago,a city with more Polish people than anywhere else in the United States,Casimir Pulaski Day is always a very important holiday.Although not well remembered in the rest of the country,Pulaski was a Polish-born hero of the American Revolution and a cavalry general.What concept helps to explain why this holiday is so much more important to people who trace their ancestry to Poland?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic ethnicity refers to the practice of identifying with a particular ethnic group on a symbolic level rather than through actual cultural practices or ties. In this case, individuals of Polish ancestry in Chicago may feel a stronger connection to their ethnic identity and the historical figure of Casimir Pulaski, leading to a greater significance placed on the holiday.

Question 8

In the early 1900s,native-born Americans,usually Protestants,did NOT consider Irish,Italian,or Jewish immigrants to be white.What does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

This illustrates the social construction of race, which is the idea that racial categories are created and defined by social and cultural factors rather than biological ones. In this case, the perceived whiteness of Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigrants was influenced by cultural and social prejudices rather than any inherent physical characteristics.

Question 9

Despite demographic shifts,how can you tell that whites are still the dominant group in California?

Accepted Answer

Despite demographic shifts in California, such as the increasing population of Latino and Asian Americans, whites still remain dominant in terms of power, resources, and representation in social institutions. This is evidenced by the fact that white individuals continue to hold a disproportionate amount of political and economic power, and are overrepresented in leadership positions in areas such as business and academia. Additionally, there are persistent racial disparities in areas such as education, healthcare, and criminal justice, which suggest that whites maintain a privileged position in society. Discrimination against other groups may be a factor, but it is not the only or most significant indicator of white dominance. Similarly, overrepresentation in prisons or as victims of violent crimes is not necessarily an indicator of dominance, as these factors can be influenced by a range of societal and structural factors.

Question 10

How do the current demographics of California challenge the way the term "minority" has been used in the past?

Accepted Answer

The fact that whites are now less than half of the population challenges the traditional notion of a minority being a group with less numerical representation in society. This suggests that the term "minority" should be redefined to reflect the changing demographics of California and other states where similar shifts are occurring.

Question 11

When someone of Irish ancestry who does NOT typically identify as Irish in everyday life puts on a green hat,drinks green beer,and wears a "Kiss me,I'm Irish" T-shirt on St.Patrick's Day,it is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of symbolic ethnicity, which refers to the adoption of certain cultural practices or symbols (such as wearing green and celebrating St. Patrick's Day) as a way of expressing an ethnic identity without necessarily fully embracing or practicing that identity in daily life.

Question 12

In the United States,which of the following groups would have the most freedom in choosing to display or not display its race or ethnicity?

Accepted Answer

Irish Americans have historically been able to assimilate into mainstream American culture and are often seen as white. As such, they have the most freedom in choosing to display or not display their ethnicity. The other groups listed have faced discrimination and stereotyping that can make it more difficult to hide or choose not to display their race or ethnicity.

Question 13

How do sociologists define race?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists define race as a social category based on real or perceived biological differences. While race does have a biological basis in terms of physical characteristics, sociologists focus on the social and cultural meanings and implications attached to those physical differences. Race is not the same as ethnicity, which is a group with a shared cultural heritage, and it does not neatly fit into categories of Mongoloid, Negroid, and Caucasoid, which are outdated and oversimplified racial classifications.

Question 14

Displays of ethnic identity that only occur on special occasions are called:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Displays of ethnic identity that only occur...

Question 15

The Brazilian census has traditionally only had four racial categories: preto,branco,amarelo,and pardo.However,in everyday life,Brazilians have many other racial categories,including moreno,mulato,neguinho,and pretinho.Most of these terms do not have an equivalent in the United States.What does this tell you?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Brazilians have additional racial categories that are not recognized in formal census data suggests that race is socially constructed and fluid in Brazil, rather than being fixed and scientifically determined.

Question 16

How do sociologists define ethnicity?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists define ethnicity as a group with a shared ancestry or shared cultural heritage, rather than solely based on physical characteristics such as skin color. Additionally, ethnicity is different from race, which is generally viewed as a socially constructed concept based on physical differences.

Question 17

How do sociologists define a minority group?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists define a minority group as a group whose members suffer from unequal treatment, discrimination, and prejudice based on their physical or cultural characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or age, regardless of their numerical size compared to the dominant group. Therefore, options A, B, and D are incorrect because they focus only on the relative size or proportion of the group, which is not enough to define them as minorities.

Question 18

How do we decide when to display situational ethnicity?

Accepted Answer

Displaying situational ethnicity can come with costs and benefits. People may choose to display situational ethnicity when the benefits outweigh the costs, such as when trying to fit in with a certain group or when wanting to celebrate cultural traditions. Sometimes people may also consider the potential negative consequences, such as facing discrimination or being seen as inauthentic, and weigh that against the benefits. Therefore, doing a cost-benefit analysis can be the most effective way to decide when to display situational ethnicity.

Question 19

In the 1900s,there was a strong prejudice against Irish immigrants and their descendants.Editorial cartoons often depicted the Irish as physically distinct and as looking like apes.What does this tell you about the history of race in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Irish immigrants and their descendants were depicted as physically distinct and different from other white Americans suggests that they were once considered to be a separate race. This highlights the historical fluidity of race, as different groups have been included or excluded based on social and cultural perceptions of difference.

Answer: B
 The prejudice against Irish immigrants and their descendants demonstrates the persistent nature of racial hostility in the United States. Despite the fact that the Irish later became integrated into mainstream society and are now considered white, they were once subjected to the same kind of racism and discrimination that many other ethnic and racial groups continue to face today.

Answer: C
 There is no evidence to suggest that there were significant biological differences between the Protestant immigrants from England and Holland and the Catholic immigrants from Ireland. Rather, the prejudice against the Irish was based on cultural and religious differences, as well as on stereotypes and perceptions of physical difference.

Answer: D
 The fact that the Irish were once subject to prejudice and discrimination does not necessarily mean that Ireland itself has undergone significant change over the course of the twentieth century. Rather, it reflects shifts in attitudes towards different groups of immigrants and the ways in which race is socially constructed and defined.

Question 20

for a long time,the fact that immigrants from eastern Europe,Asia,and Latin America tended to be shorter than native-born Americans was taken as evidence that there were inherent racial differences between these populations.However,the immigrants had children who grew up to be as tall as anyone else,and geneticists now tell us that,while there can be considerable variation in height within a group due to genetics,height differences between groups are largely caused by diet.What does this demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the height differences between immigrant populations and native-born Americans were not due to inherent racial differences but were largely caused by diet demonstrates that racial differences are socially constructed and not genetic.

Quiz 8: Race and Ethnicity as Lived Experience