Deck 10: D: Race and Racialization

Question 1

Given how Canada treated its First Nations' peoples,do you still believe that Canada can consider itself a multicultural nation? Why or why not? Provide examples to explain your answer.

Answer 1

Cultural pluralism,or multiculturalism.The retention of minority groups' cultural identities and the promotion of cultural,ethnic,and racial diversity by the larger society.
Residential schools,segregation through the reserve system,attempted assimilation through the White Paper,ongoing systemic discrimination
Pro-multicultural arguments may use the example of Sikhs RCMP officers wearing their turbans instead of the Mountie hat.

Question 2

What is stated by the Thomas theorem? How does this theorem relate to concepts such as racialization,internalized racism,racism,and stereotypes? What concerns might this pose for society?

Answer 2

The Thomas theorem tells us what people believe to be real is real in its consequences.Since members of minority groups are perceived as different,over time they may feel different and begin to assume the attributes that others credit them with-in effect,a self-fulfilling prophecy.In other words,if the majority constantly views minority group members as failures,then some will indeed become failures.
Stereotypes are stable and sweeping generalizations about a category of people that are applied to all members of that category.
Racialization.The process of attributing complex characteristics (e.g. ,intelligence)to racial categories.
Internalized racism.The internalization of racial categorizations into a person's identity.
Racism.An ideology that maintains that one race is inherently superior to another.
The Thomas theorem relates to these concepts,because these are concepts of how we view other people,which will influence how they view themselves and,through self-fulfilling prophecies,come to reflect these prejudices,which will only reinforce them in society.

Question 3

Imagine that you are a 35-year-old Indian woman planning to immigrate to North America with your husband and three children.How would your experience immigrating to Canada be different from your experience immigrating to the United States? Provide examples of differences your family might experience between these two immigration experiences.

Answer 3

Answers will vary,but should revolve around the fact that Canada has a multicultural policy,while the United States tends to adopt a "melting pot" approach to immigration.Cultural pluralism,or multiculturalism: The retention of minority groups' cultural identities and the promotion of cultural,ethnic,and racial diversity by the larger society.Melting pot: The blending of new immigrants' traditions and cultural identity into the dominant American culture.

Question 4

Compose an essay that attempts to answer the question of whether it is possible to discriminate and not be prejudiced,or be prejudiced but not discriminate.Provide examples to support your answer.

Question 5

Compare and contrast the two psychological theories explaining prejudice and discrimination.Which do you believe is more accurate and why? Provide examples to support your answer where applicable.

Question 6

Compose an essay discussing the three approaches of conflict theory to racial prejudice and discrimination.Use examples as support.Which approach do you believe is the most relevant in today's society and why?

Question 7

Canada's Aboriginal peoples are more likely than the general population to have inadequate food and housing,experience higher rates of unemployment,and are more likely to suffer from certain diseases and health problems.Describe how one of the sociocultural theories-post-colonial theorists,functionalists,conflict theorists,or culture theorists-would account for these differences.What do you think this theory would propose as a possible solution?

Question 8

Compare and contrast two of the following theoretical approaches as they apply to the phenomenon of discrimination: culture theory,functionalism,conflict theory,symbolic interactionism,multiracial feminist theory,and/or post-colonial theory.

Question 9

Describe the functionalist theory regarding prejudice,and explain the reasoning that functionalists use to make their point.Do you believe that racism may have an overall net benefit for society,because it serves vital functions? Why or why not?

Question 10

Develop an essay in which you discuss the significance of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as it pertains to the rights of historically disadvantaged minority and racialized group members.Provide an example.