Question 1

__________ assimilation occurs when members of one group marry those of other social or ethnic groups.

Accepted Answer

Biological assimilation, also known as amalgamation, occurs when members of different ethnic or social groups intermarry and have children who are of mixed heritage. This type of assimilation can lead to a blurring of ethnic or racial lines over time. Cultural assimilation (B) refers to the adoption of the customs and values of the dominant culture by a minority group, while psychological assimilation (C) involves a sense of identification and belonging to the new culture. Structural assimilation (D) refers to the integration of minority groups into the social, economic, and political structures of the dominant society.

Question 2

Despite decades of enforcement of Civil Rights legislation, neighborhoods in the United States still tend to be racially segregated. This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

De facto segregation refers to segregation that occurs without legal mandates or enforcement, but rather through social and economic factors. Although legal segregation (de jure segregation) has been dismantled, de facto segregation still persists in many areas of the United States. Miscegenation refers to interracial marriage or sexual relations, while de faccia segregation is not a recognized term.

Question 3

Inequalitarian pluralism describes a situation in which specific ethnic groups are set apart from the dominant group and have unequal access to power and privilege. This pattern is also referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

Inequalitarian pluralism involves the segregation of specific ethnic groups from the dominant group, resulting in unequal access to power and privilege. Choice B) miscegenation refers to the mixing of different racial groups through intermarriage, which is not relevant in this context. Choice C) incompatibility refers to the inability of different groups to exist or work together, which is not necessarily the case in inequalitarian pluralism. Choice D) accommodation refers to the adjustment or compromise between different groups, which is not necessarily present in a situation of unequal power dynamics.

Question 4

__________ analyze power and economic differentials between the dominant groups and subordinate groups in society.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists focus on power and economic differences between groups in society and how these differences lead to conflicts and inequalities. They view society as a struggle for resources and power between dominant and subordinate groups.

Question 5

Switzerland has been described as a model of __________ pluralism; more than 6 million people with French, German, and Italian cultural heritages peacefully coexist there.

Accepted Answer

Accommodation pluralism refers to a situation where multiple cultures coexist within a single society or nation by accommodating each other's unique practices and beliefs. Switzerland is known for its accommodation of multiple languages and cultures, including German, French, and Italian. Compatibility pluralism, on the other hand, suggests that cultures can only coexist if they are similar or compatible with one another. Segregation refers to the forced separation of cultures, which is not the case in Switzerland. Miscegenation, meanwhile, refers to the interbreeding of different races and is not relevant to the situation in Switzerland.

Question 6

__________ is the coexistence of a variety of distinct racial and ethnic groups within one society; this coexistence occurs when groups share elements of the mainstream culture while remaining culturally distinct from both the dominant group and other social and ethnic groups.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ is the coexistence of a variety...

Question 7

__________ refers to the spatial and social separation of categories of people by race, ethnicity, class, gender, and/or religion.

Accepted Answer

Segregation refers to the separation of different categories of people based on factors such as race, ethnicity, class, gender, and/or religion. This separation can occur in both physical and social settings.

Question 8

According to sociologist Robert Blauner, groups that have been subjected to __________ remain in subordinate positions longer than groups that voluntarily migrated to the United States.

Accepted Answer

Robert Blauner's theory of internal colonialism suggests that groups that have been subjected to colonialism within their own country, such as African Americans and Native Americans, remain in subordinate positions longer than groups that voluntarily migrated to the United States. Therefore, the best choice is D) internal colonialism.

Question 9

__________ is still prevalent in many U.S. cities, where owners, landlords, real estate agents, and apartment managers often use informal mechanisms to maintain their properties for "whites only."​

Accepted Answer

De facto segregation refers to segregation that occurs due to factors like patterns of residential settlement or economic disparities, rather than explicit laws or policies. This type of segregation is often perpetuated through informal means, such as discriminatory housing practices or "redlining" by banks and insurers. De jure segregation (A) refers to segregation that is enforced by law, while de face segregation (B) and de hisce segregation (D) are not recognized terms related to segregation.

Question 10

In the United States, indigenous groups lost property, political rights, aspects of their culture, and often their lives. The effects of past __________ are reflected today in the number of Native Americans who live on government reservations.

Accepted Answer

Internal colonialism refers to the situation where one group dominates another group within the same country. This happened in the United States with the indigenous populations, who were subjected to violence, forced removal from their land, and confinement to government reservations. The effects of this historical injustice are still visible today in the high rates of poverty and other social problems among Native Americans living on reservations.

Question 11

__________ typically starts in large, impersonal settings such as schools and workplaces, and only later (if at all) results in close friendships and intermarriage.

Accepted Answer

Structural assimilation refers to the integration of individuals or groups into the social structures of the dominant society, such as schools and workplaces. It often comes before intermarriage and close friendships, which are more characteristic of cultural assimilation. Biological assimilation is not a term commonly used in the assimilation literature, and psychological assimilation refers to changes in individuals' attitudes and beliefs, rather than their social integration.

Question 12

An important contribution of the caste perspective is_________________________.

Accepted Answer

The caste perspective acknowledges the seemingly permanent nature of racism due to structural elements in society, which is an important contribution to understanding and addressing racial and ethnic inequality. This perspective highlights how caste system operates to maintain inequality and discrimination based on one's birth, which is similar to how structural racism operates in maintaining inequality and discrimination based on one's race. Thus, the caste perspective offers a unique perspective on how social hierarchies are maintained and reproduced over time.

Question 13

Equalitarian pluralism describes a situation in which ethnic groups coexist in equality with one another. This pattern is also referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

Equalitarian pluralism refers to a situation where different ethnic groups coexist in harmony, without one group dominating or imposing its values on the others. Accommodation is the appropriate term here, as it refers to different groups adapting and making accommodations to each other's needs and values, in order to coexist peacefully. Miscegenation refers to interracial marriage or mixing of different races, which is not directly related to the concept of equalitarian pluralism. Segregation refers to the separation of different ethnic groups, which is antithetical to the idea of equalitarian pluralism. Compatibility refers to the ability of different things or people to work well together, which is a related concept but not specific to the coexistence of ethnic groups.

Question 14

__________ occurs when members of a racial or ethnic group are conquered and forcibly placed under the economic and political control of the dominant group in a particular society.

Accepted Answer

Internal colonialism is the term used to describe the subjugation of one racial or ethnic group by another within the same country or society. This can involve economic and political exploitation, as well as social and cultural discrimination. Classic colonialism involves the domination of one country by another through military conquest and political control. Structural segregation and racial discrimination refer to patterns of inequality and prejudice within a society, but do not necessarily involve the forced subjugation of one group by another.

Question 15

Prior to the Civil Rights Act, Jim Crow laws in the U.S. South mandated the systematic physical and social separation of whites and African Americans in all areas of public life. This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

Jim Crow laws were legal statutes that mandated the segregation of people on the basis of race in public spaces. This is an example of de jure segregation, which means segregation that is mandated by law.

Question 16

Oliver Cox, applying a class perspective on racial inequality, has suggested that African Americans were enslaved because __________.

Accepted Answer

Oliver Cox's class perspective suggests that African Americans were enslaved because they were the cheapest and best workers the owners could find for heavy labor in the mines and on plantations. This perspective highlights the economic motivation behind slavery and argues that race played a secondary role in the exploitation of African Americans.

Question 17

Internal colonialism, the split-labor-market theory, and gendered racism are theories that are rooted in the __________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Internal colonialism, split-labor-market theory, and gendered racism are all examples of how social inequality and conflict arise from the struggles over power and resources between different groups in society. This is the basis of the conflict perspective in sociology. The other options (functionalist, postmodern, and symbolic interactionist) do not typically focus on the dynamics of power, inequality, and conflict in society.

Question 18

__________ assimilation involves a change in racial or ethnic self-identification on the part of an individual.

Accepted Answer

Psychological assimilation refers to the individual's change in racial or ethnic self-identification, as they begin to adopt the cultural practices and values of the dominant group. Structural assimilation refers to the integration of minorities into the social, economic, and political systems of the dominant group. Cultural assimilation or acculturation involves adopting the language, values, beliefs, and customs of the dominant group, while biological amalgamation involves intermarriage and interbreeding between different racial or ethnic groups.

Question 19

The caste perspective views racial and ethnic inequality as a permanent feature of U.S. society. The caste system was strengthened by __________ laws, which prohibited sexual intercourse or marriage between persons of different races.

Accepted Answer

The caste perspective views racial and ethnic inequality as a permanent feature of U.S. society. The caste system was strengthened by antimiscegenation laws, which prohibited sexual intercourse or marriage between persons of different races.

Question 20

William J. Wilson has argued for the importance of class, in addition to race, in explaining social inequality. Specifically, his analysis has focused on_________________.

Accepted Answer

William J. Wilson's analysis has focused on deindustrialization and the disappearance of jobs in the inner city as important factors in explaining social inequality, particularly for African Americans. He argues that this has led to a concentration of poverty, a breakdown of social institutions, and a lack of opportunities for upward mobility. While he acknowledges the importance of race, he argues that class plays a crucial role in understanding these processes.

Quiz 9: Race and Ethnicity