ethnicity
ethnicity, ethnic group Ethnicity defines individuals who consider themselves, or are considered by others, to share common characteristics which differentiate them from the other collectivities in a
society, within which they develop distinct cultural behaviour.
The term was coined in contradistinction to
race, since although members of an ethnic group may be identifiable in terms of racial attributes, they may also share other cultural characteristics such as religion, occupation, language, or politics. Ethnic groups should also be distinguished from social
classes, since membership generally cross-cuts the socio-economic
stratification within society, encompassing individuals who share (or are perceived to share) common characteristics that supersede class. The Jews in the United States thus constitute a typical ethnic group, since they include individuals of different racial origins (from East Europe to North Africa), social classes, mother-tongues, political beliefs, and religious commitment (from orthodox to atheist), yet still consider themselves to share a common Jewish identity that distinguishes them from, while not necessarily placing them in opposition to, wider American society.
Ethnic groups are therefore fluid in composition and subject to changes in definition. New ethnic groups are constantly being formed as populations move between countries. Indians in Britain, for example, constitute an ethnic group—although as individuals in India they would be seen to be members of quite different groups in terms of
caste and
language. The concept of ethnicity is particularly important when it forms the basis for social
discrimination (as, for example, in the case of Jews in Nazi Germany) or for independence movements (as in the Soviet Union).
The relevant literature is voluminous. John Rex and David Mason's
Theories of Race and Ethnic Relations (1986) demonstrates the range and diversity of current approaches in the field. Michael Banton's
Racial and Ethnic Competition (1983) is an excellent summary of the American and British substantive literature. For America see Nathan Glazer ,
Ethnic Dilemmas, 1964–1982 (1983)
. Anthony Smith 's
The Ethnic Revival (1981)
demonstrates the importance of the concept to a sociological understanding of conflict and change in the modern world. Frank Bean and Marta Tienda's
The Hispanic Population in the United States (1990) uses quantitative data in a case-study of ethnicity in modern America. Ira Katznelson's history of the urban politics of Northern Manhattan (
City Trenches, 1981) is a case-study of the interaction of ethnicity and class. See also
CULTURE;
NATIONALISM.
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Genetic interests of ethnic groups.
Magazine article from: National Observer - Australia and World Affairs; 3/22/2004; ; 700+ words
; ...people in the same ethnic group or race share...from different ethnic groups or races. Different...of his or her ethnic group and race. In other...immigration of ethnic outsiders constitutes...many immigrant ethnic groups, the result is...
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L'ethnicite et ses frontieres.(Review)
Magazine article from: The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology; 11/1/2000; ; 700+ words
; ...explanations of how ethnic groups survive and develop...affairs. Fourth, ethnic group boundaries (les...relative autonomy of ethnic groups, as manifested...gender. And sixth, ethnic group boundaries must...development of ethnic groups in North ...
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Review essay: Discovering the Peoples of Michigan.(Critical Essay)
Magazine article from: Michigan Historical Review; 3/22/2004; ; 700+ words
; ...the numerous ethnic groups residing in...stories of various ethnic groups in Michigan...p. 3) and an ethnic group as one among...of individual ethnic groups in Michigan...the various ethnic groups' experiences...
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The African American DNA roots project. (South Carolina Academy of Sciences Abstracts).(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Bulletin of the South Carolina Academy of Science; 1/1/2003; ; 235 words
; ...link African Americans to specific ethnic groups in West Africa. The hypothesis is...Africa, DNAs distinct to a single ethnic group or set of related ethnic groups may also be found. To begin to test...from male representatives of four ethnic groups found in Sierra ...
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(book reviews)
Magazine article from: AORN Journal; 9/1/1998; ; 527 words
; ...detailed study of 27 ethnic groups that reside in...describe each ethnic group, organizing the...metabolism for each ethnic group. For example...the different ethnic groups is also extremely...that particular ethnic group. I highly recommend...for people ...
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"Interracial dating: yes or no?". (response of Afro-American college students) (Feedback) (Column)
Magazine article from: The Black Collegian; 3/1/1993; 700+ words
; ...dating people of other ethnic groups. I believe dating...of his or her own ethnic group. I believe if one...hostilities toward other ethnic groups. The Holy Scriptures...with members of other ethnic groups, we should first learn...
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Vertical mosaic among the elites: the new imagery revisited.
Magazine article from: The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology; 2/1/1997; ; 700+ words
; ...French and other ethnic groups amongst Canadian...that of the third ethnic group has increased...two were of other ethnic groups. He concluded that...even though this ethnic group made up less than...were from other ethnic groups. Thus in...members of ...
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Black and White fathers of early adolescents: a cross-cultural approach to curriculum development for parent education.
Magazine article from: North American Journal of Psychology; 12/1/2006; ; 700+ words
; ...Both generations in each ethnic group described favorable attributes...could serve fathers of both ethnic groups. Additional topics, based...income fathers from their ethnic group. Then too, more affluent...affluent parents of other ethnic groups (Weiss, Kreider, ...
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The NPD Group reveals ethnicity's impact on the beauty industry.(News Front)
Magazine article from: Household & Personal Products Industry; 3/1/2007; 189 words
; ...category usage and brand preferences varying widely across ethnic groups. Overall, African American women are less likely than...shaving products, but are more likely than any other ethnic group to use fragrances or bath products. By comparison...most likely to report using makeup (relative to ...
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AUSTRALIA: ANTI-MUSLIM FEELING ON THE RISE - RESEARCH.(Brief Article)
Newspaper article from: IPR Strategic Business Information Database; 2/25/2003; 144 words
; ...that the Muslims are the most marginalized religious and ethnic group in the country, and that my Australians belief that the Muslims...Forty-five percent of those polled believe that some of the ethnic groups do not integrate with Australian society, and continue to...
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Ethnicity
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Science and Religion
Ethnicity This entry probes the intersections of religion and science from a cultural perspective. Culture and ethnicity are crucial to the ongoing dialogue about meaning, nature...inferiority. Distinctions based on color, physical traits, or ethnicity mask issues of power, fear of difference, and social...
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Genetics: Ethnicity
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Aging
GENETICS: ETHNICITY Ethnicity is a term used for categorizing the highly diverse human populations...of systematic age exaggeration. Thus, the relationship between ethnicity and exceptional longevity remains to be thoroughly studied. It...
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Race and Ethnicity
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to United States History
Race and Ethnicity. Race and ethnicity have always mattered in the American experience. But their meanings...they are continually negotiated and renegotiated. Race and ethnicity, or supposed physical and cultural groupings, respectively...
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Ethnicity and Health
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Public Health
ETHNICITY AND HEALTH The issue of cultural sensitivity is central to ethnicity and health, and to developing health-promotion and disease-preventi...term refers to programs and messages that use culture, ethnicity, history, and core values to motivate behavior change...
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Ethnicity and Race in the Military
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to American Military History
Ethnicity and Race in the Military. Ethnicity and race have been less troubling military questions for the United States than for nations where ethnic and racial competition, political power struggles, or caste systems have had a military dimension...
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