Question 1

Alicia is part African, Hispanic, and Native American. How is she most likely to identify herself?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Alicia is part African, Hispanic, and Native...

Question 2

When Europeans settled in the New World, they wanted to open up territories for settlements. This meant that Native Americans were not only forcibly removed from their land but sometimes killed. This deliberate and systematic destruction of Native Americans was __________.

Accepted Answer

The deliberate and systematic destruction of Native Americans through forced removal from their land and sometimes killing constitutes genocide.

Question 3

Discuss how psychologists have explained racism and the shortcomings of these explanations. How do sociologists explain racism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how psychologists have explained racism and...

Question 4

Individuals of mixed-race ancestry are more likely to identify themselves as __________ if they have Asian ancestry, but individuals with __________ ancestry are more likely to be assigned to a single race by others, regardless how they self-identify.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that individuals with mixed-race ancestry are more likely to identify as multiracial if they have Asian ancestry. On the other hand, individuals with African ancestry are more likely to be assigned to a single race by others, regardless of how they self-identify, due to the historical "one-drop rule." Therefore, option B (multiracial; African) is the best choice.

Question 5

In 1965, ___________ made the following statement: "You do not take a man who for years has been hobbled by chains, liberate him, bring him to the starting line of a race, saying, 'you are free to compete with all the others,' and still justly believe you have been completely fair. "

Accepted Answer

This statement was made by Lyndon B. Johnson to illustrate the need for affirmative action, emphasizing that simply removing legal barriers does not instantly level the playing field for those who have been historically disadvantaged.

Question 6

John was recently sentenced for 10 years in prison for possession of crack cocaine. His lawyer discovered that others have served less time for the possession of powder cocaine, a drug often associated with a different category of people. John's lawyer has concluded that this discrepant sentencing is the result of __________.

Accepted Answer

The discrepant sentencing is an example of institutional discrimination, which occurs when policies or practices within an organization or institution (in this case, the criminal justice system) result in differential treatment of certain groups.

Question 7

Discuss the differences between individual and institutional discrimination and provide an example of each one.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the differences between individual and institutional...

Question 8

Explain what is meant by affirmative action. What necessitated the need for affirmative action? How have people responded to affirmative action?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what is meant by affirmative action....

Question 9

Lucy is learning about social constructs in her sociology class. Based on the lectures that she has been exposed to throughout the semester, Lucy has concluded that race is a social construct. Why would Lucy make this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

One of the key characteristics of a social construct is that it varies across different cultures and time periods. The concept of race has been defined in different ways across different societies, making it a social construct rather than a fixed biological fact.

Question 10

Discuss the difference between prejudice and discrimination. Could a person be prejudiced without discriminating? Could a person discriminate without being prejudiced?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the difference between prejudice and discrimination....

Question 11

During a lecture about race in his sociology class, Tomas becomes confused. He recently discovered, on his birth certificate, that he was labeled as white, yet his much younger brother, Carlos, is classified as Hispanic on his birth certificate. What could best explain this discrepancy in labels?

Accepted Answer

The way that social institutions choose to label and identify racial and ethnic groups is not fixed and has changed over time. In the past, there were different racial and ethnic categories, and these categories were not always consistent across institutions. It is possible that in the past, the Census Bureau or hospital records may have labeled Tomas differently than his brother, reflecting changing social perceptions of race and ethnicity.

Question 12

Sophia is a third-generation Italian. She heard stories about how her grandparents experienced discrimination when they arrived in the United States. Her grandparents also maintained their culture and traditions by continuing to speak Italian in addition to leaning English. Sophia knows very little about Italian culture and does not speak Italian. What accounts for this lack of cultural knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Sophia's lack of cultural knowledge is most likely due to her family's assimilation into American culture over the generations. This could have led to a decrease in practicing Italian traditions and language within the family. Additionally, it is not mentioned that Sophia's parents actively suppressed Italian culture in fear of discrimination. It is also unlikely that Sophia felt ashamed of her background, as she is interested in learning about it now. Lastly, while knowledge of Italian culture may not impact her employment opportunities directly, it can provide her with a valuable sense of identity and connection to her heritage.

Question 13

Mawenzi has sent out hundreds of résumés but has gotten very few replies, even though he graduated with honors from a top-tier school and has experience and excellent references. If Mawenzi suspected intentional discrimination, what statement would support his suspicion?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that job applicants with certain ethnic-sounding names have a lower chance of being called for an interview as compared to those with non-ethnic names. This is a form of discrimination known as name-based discrimination. As Mawenzi may have a stereotypically "black name," he may be experiencing this form of discrimination.

Quiz 11: Race and Ethnicity