11.4 Intergroup Relationships - Introduction to Sociology 3e

Learning Objectives

• Explain different intergroup relations in terms of tolerance levels.
• Provide historical and contemporary examples of intergroup relations.

Spectrum of Intergroup Relations

• Intergroup relations range from tolerance to intolerance.
• Pluralism: Most tolerant form, similar to a salad bowl where cultures retain their identity.
• Amalgamation, Expulsion, Genocide: Examples of intolerant relations.

Types of Intergroup Relationships

Pluralism

• Ideal of diverse cultures coexisting with mutual respect and equal standing.
• Represented by the "salad bowl" analogy.
• True pluralism is often challenging to achieve due to lack of mutual respect.

Assimilation

• Minority groups adopt the dominant culture, losing their original identity.
• Traditionally part of U.S. immigration history.
• Symbolic ethnic gestures may remain, like Saint Patrick's Day or Diwali celebrations.
• Measured by socioeconomic status, spatial concentration, language assimilation, intermarriage.
• Language assimilation can be a challenging barrier.

Amalgamation

• Minority and majority groups combine to form a new group.
• "Melting pot" ideal, leading to a new culture entirely.
• Historically hindered by anti-miscegenation laws, overturned in 1967 (Loving v. Virginia).

Genocide

• Deliberate extermination of a targeted group.
• Examples include:
  • Holocaust: Hitler's attempt to exterminate Jews and others.
  • Native Americans: European colonization led to massive population decline due to disease and forced removal.
  • Darfur, Sudan: Ongoing ethnic conflicts resulting in mass deaths.

Expulsion

• Forcing a subordinate group to leave an area.
• Can be part of genocide or stand alone.
• Example: Japanese internment in the U.S. during WWII under Executive Order 9066.

Segregation

• Physical separation based on race or ethnicity.
• De Jure Segregation: Enforced by law, e.g., apartheid in South Africa, Jim Crow laws in the U.S.
• De Facto Segregation: Occurs without laws but due to societal factors, persists in modern times.

Important Historical Cases

• Trail of Tears: Forced removal of Native Americans.
• Japanese Internment: Example of expulsion during WWII.
• Apartheid in South Africa: Legalized segregation that ended in 1994.
• Jim Crow Laws: Codified segregation post-Civil War in the U.S.

Contemporary Issues

• Segregation still exists in forms like neighborhood racial divides.
• Sociologists measure segregation with indices ranging from 0 (most integrated) to 100 (least).

Conclusion

• Intergroup relationships vary widely and can have profound impacts on society.
• Understanding these relationships helps in identifying and combating inequality and intolerance.