The social dimensions of race and ethnicity are important factors in shaping people's lives in the United States and other countries. In this chapter, we examine the meaning of race and ethnicity and study the major racial and ethnic minorities of the United States. After studying this chapter you should be able to:
| 1. Differentiate between the biological significance of race and the social construction of race. |
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| 2. Discuss patterns of prejudice and discrimination. |
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| 3. Explain what sociologists mean by the term minority group. |
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| 4. Summarize the three functions that racially prejudiced beliefs have for the dominant group. |
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| 5. Examine racial prejudice and discrimination from the various sociological perspectives. |
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| 6. Summarize the basic points of exploitation theory. |
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| 7. Discuss the contact hypothesis. |
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| 8. Differentiate between prejudice, ethnocentrism, and racism. |
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| 9. Explain what is meant by institutional discrimination. |