Question 1

This refers to the everyday business practices and policies which disadvantage minorities and offer advantages to dominant group members; it is often written off as "just the way things are."

Accepted Answer

Institutional racism refers to the ways in which policies and practices within institutions such as corporations, schools, and government agencies disadvantage minority groups and offer advantages to dominant group members. It can be difficult to recognize because it is often deeply ingrained in the way things are done, and is often not intentionally malicious.

Question 2

This is a term that refers to a group of people that share a culture, nationality, ancestry, and/or language.

Accepted Answer

An ethnic group is defined as a group of people who share a common culture, ancestry, language, and heritage. It is different from a racial group as race refers to physical characteristics while ethnicity refers to cultural characteristics. Minority group and subordinate group both refer to groups that have less power or status in a society compared to the dominant group.

Question 3

Which of the following types of racism is considered to be the most pervasive today?

Accepted Answer

While prejudice and individual discrimination still exist, institutional discrimination is the most pervasive form of racism today. It is entrenched within the systems and structures of society, such as in education, housing, and employment, and perpetuates inequality and barriers for marginalized groups. Ideological racism, which promotes the belief in the superiority of one race over another, is also a problem, but institutional discrimination has a more concrete impact on people's daily lives.

Question 4

This term refers to Mexican Americans and originated out of their activism in the post- World War II era.

Accepted Answer

The term "Chicano" refers specifically to Mexican Americans and was coined during the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement in the post- World War II era. It was used to assert a distinct ethnic identity and pride in Mexican heritage.

Question 5

This refers to the idea, formerly legally enforced and later a U.S. cultural norm, that if a person has any black ancestry, they are considered to be black.

Accepted Answer

The One-drop rule was a legal and cultural norm in the US that stated that any person with even a drop of black ancestry was considered to be black. This rule was enforced particularly during the era of segregation and Jim Crow laws. It was a way for white supremacists to maintain a social hierarchy where black individuals were seen as inferior to white individuals.

Question 6

This refers to anxiety, self-doubt, and in extreme cases, self-hatred felt by some members of stigmatized groups because of the pervasiveness of derogatory stereotypes, ethnocentrism, and other forms of racism.

Accepted Answer

Internalized racism refers to the negative attitudes and beliefs that members of a stigmatized group internalize about themselves as a result of the dominant culture's stereotypes and prejudices. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and even self-hatred.

Question 7

This refers to the discrimination that darker-skinned Latinos and African Americans face within their own group compared to lighter-skinned group members.

Accepted Answer

Colorism refers to the discrimination or prejudice based on skin color within a particular racial or ethnic group. This can result in lighter-skinned individuals being favored and having more opportunities while darker-skinned individuals may experience discrimination or disadvantage.

Question 8

This was a term that was found on several censuses during the mid-to-late 1800s. It referred to someone that had one black great-grandparent.

Accepted Answer

Octoroon refers to a person who is of one-eighth black ancestry, meaning they have one black great-grandparent. This term was used in the context of racial classification in the mid-to-late 1800s.

Question 9

In 1988, African American leader Jesse Jackson announced that ______ was the acceptable term for black Americans.

Accepted Answer

Jesse Jackson announced in 1988 that African American was the acceptable term for black Americans, as it acknowledges both their African ancestry and their American identity.

Question 10

This specifically refers to a group of people that share some socially defined physical characteristics, for instance, skin color, hair texture, or facial features.

Accepted Answer

Race refers to a group of people who share physical characteristics such as skin color, hair texture, or facial features. While ethnicity can also be based on shared culture, religion, or language, race specifically refers to physical traits. The terms majority group and dominant group do not necessarily refer to physical characteristics, but rather to groups that hold more power and privilege in a society.

Question 11

When sociologists speak of a minority group, they are referring to

Accepted Answer

When sociologists speak of a minority group, they are referring to a group that has less than their proportionate share of society's goods and resources. This can be based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, and does not necessarily relate to the numerical size of the group.

Question 12

When sociologists describe race as being socially constructed, which of the following pieces of evidence can NOT be offered to support that statement?

Accepted Answer

Societal racial categories do not have a biological or genetic basis. The mapping of the human genome has shown that there is no biological or genetic basis for racial categories. Rather, race and ethnicity are social constructs that vary by culture and change over time.

Question 13

Groups or individuals working to eradicate racism are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Groups or individuals working to eradicate racism are commonly referred to as racial justice activists because they aim to achieve equality and fairness for people of all races. The term "Eracists" is not commonly used, while "Racist activists" is an oxymoron as they work to perpetuate racism, not eradicate it. Sociologists may study racism, but they are not necessarily focused on actively working to eradicate it.

Question 14

This argues that our understanding of the world (racism, sexism, ablism, etc.) stems from our particular social location within it.

Accepted Answer

The standpoint perspective argues that our social location within the world shapes our understanding and knowledge of it. It suggests that individuals from different social groups have unique knowledge and experiences that contribute to a more complex and nuanced understanding of the world. Therefore, our understanding of issues such as racism, sexism, and ablism are influenced by our social location and the perspectives we have access to.

Question 15

This is a type of racism that refers to attitudes and beliefs rather than actions.

Accepted Answer

Prejudice refers to preconceived opinions or attitudes about individuals or groups, often based on stereotypes, and does not necessarily involve actions.

Question 16

This is a term that can be used to collectively refer to racial/ethnic minority groups that have been the object of discrimination in the United States.

Accepted Answer

"People of color" is a term commonly used to refer to racial/ethnic minority groups who have experienced discrimination based on their skin color or cultural background. It acknowledges the shared experiences and struggles of these groups, while also recognizing their individual differences and diversity within the umbrella term. Choices B, C, and D are more general and do not specifically refer to the history and experiences of discrimination faced by racial/ethnic minorities in the U.S.

Question 17

In the current era, which of the following terms used to refer to black people is no longer considered acceptable?

Accepted Answer

The term "Negro" is no longer considered acceptable and can be seen as offensive or derogatory. The term "African American" is the most commonly used term, but some individuals may prefer to use "Black" or "Black American."

Question 18

Which of the following terms are considered acceptable when referring to the indigenous people of this continent?

Accepted Answer

All of the terms listed are considered acceptable by various groups and individuals within the indigenous communities of the continent. The preference for terminology can vary widely among individuals and communities, and it's always best to ask or follow the lead of the individuals you are interacting with.

Question 19

This refers to an institutional space where white privilege is maintained and reproduced.

Accepted Answer

"White space" is the term commonly used to describe an institutional space where white privilege is maintained and reproduced. It refers to places where people of color are excluded or marginalized, and where white people dominate in terms of power, authority, and representation. This can be seen in many different institutions, including schools, workplaces, and government agencies. By perpetuating white privilege, these spaces contribute to systemic racism and inequality.

Question 20

Which of the following racial/ethnic groups have had demeaning sexualized stereotypes about them that are designed to portray them as deviant and "other?"

Accepted Answer

All of the listed racial/ethnic groups have been targets of demeaning sexualized stereotypes that aim to portray them as deviant and "other." African American men have been stereotyped as hypersexual and aggressive, Native American women have been fetishized as "exotic" and submissive, and Asian American men have been emasculated and desexualized. These stereotypes are harmful and perpetuate harmful prejudices and biases.

Quiz 1: Taking Account of Race, Racism, and Privilege