ETHINIC GROUPS AND RACISM

Objectives:

1. Define the ethnic group and racism operationally.

2. Give the consequences or effects of membership in racial and ethnic groups.
3. Discuss the patterns of ethnic group relations.
4. Classify the ethnic minorities in the Philippines.
5. Identify the ethnic minorities in the Philippines.
6. Give examples to show prejudice, discriminating and stereotyping.
7. Appreciate the efforts done to eliminate or lessen institutional discrimination.

THE SOCIOLOGICAL MEANING OF ETHNIC GROUPS AND RACISM

 The classification of people into races and ethnic groups carries deep implications on the social
and political life of different racial and ethnic groups. Such classifications of racial and ethnic
categories have held severe consequences for some groups while elevating other groups into
positions of power, superiority and prestige. These classifications led to the notion of racial
superiority and racial inferiority, culturally advanced groups and culturally disadvantaged, the
use of derogatory undertones and parody, apartheid policy, discrimination and prejudice, and
stereotyping of groups of people.
 Ethnic conflicts have been a regular process with the same territorial borders and among the
nations of the world. It has become pervasive and dangerous because they cause massive
humanitarian suffering, civil wars and destabilizing effects.
 According to Light (1985), biologically, race refers to a population that through generations of
inbreeding has developed more or less distinctive physical characteristics that are transmitted
genetically. It refers to a group of people who perceive themselves and are perceived by others
as possessing certain distinctive and hereditary physical traits.

Sociologically, race refers to a group of people whom others believe are genetically distinct and
whom they treat accordingly.

 “Race” - commonly used to refer to physical differences between people brought about by
physical characteristics of genetic origin. The commonness of genetic heritage may be
manifested in the shape of the head and the face, the shape and color of the eyes, the shape of
the nose, lips and ears, the texture and color of the hair, the skin color, height, blood type and
other physical characteristics. Among the significant racial categories studied by early social
scientists were the Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid and the subgroups of primary and derived
races.
 A number of these physical traits may be used but many of these traits do not vary
altogether. Hence, the classification of people into races is arbitrary (Ember and
Ember 1988L 1180-119). Furthermore, differentiation based on biological
characteristics may not prove to be objective because it is often associated with
 culturally established notions, like the superiority of a race over another. While there
is no specific evidence to support the assumptions of the pure races and of inferior
and superior races, physical differences play an important role in human behavior.
These beliefs are learned through the process of socialization within the family and
other primary groups o indoctrination. Racial differences are seen as physical
differences singled out by the community or society as ethically significant
(1989:246).
 Classic examples include the superiority of the Aryan race in Hitler’s Germany, the
implication of the “Indian” and “Negro” as being second-class citizens; and the
classification of Negritos in the Philippines carries derogatory undertones.
 According to Davis Jary and Julie Dary (Collins 1995:540), race is a scientifically
discredited term previously used to describe biologically distinct groups of persons
who were alleged to have characteristics of an unalterable nature. The concept has
been used in the English language since the 16th century. Its meaning has altered
several times over the last 400 years in line with changing concepts about the nature
of physical and cultural differences and more importantly, the ideological uses of the
concept to justify relationships of superiority and exploitation.
 It is preferable to refer to ethnicity or ethnic groups rather than the race for its
historical and biological connotations. Despite the discredited nature of the concept
of “race”, the idea still exerts a powerful influence in everyday language and
ideology.
 An ethnic group represents a number of persons who have a common cultural
background as evidences by a feeling of loyalty to a given geographical territory or
leader, a feeling of identification with and unity among historical and other group
experiences, or a high degree of similarity in social norms, ideas and material
objects. A consciousness of kind, and “we” feeling are shared by the members.
Members of ethnic groups see themselves as culturally different from other groups
in the society and are viewed by others to be so. (Giddens 1989:234-244)
 An ethnic group refers to a group of people sharing an identity which arises from a
collective sense of a distinctive history. Ethnic groups possess their own culture,
customs, norms, beliefs and traditions. There is usually a common language, and
boundary maintenance is observed between members and non-members, as well as
by birth; ethnic group membership maybe acquired through marriage in other
socially sanctioned rites.
 While socially perceived racial characteristics may be a feature of such groups,
ethnic groups are not synonymous with racial groups.
 The anthropologist Narroll (1964) stresses the importance of shared cultural values
and a group awareness of cultural distinctiveness as key elements in ethnic group
membership. Barth (1970) olaces emphasis on group organization and the
 maintenance of ethnic boundaries via ethnic markers - the means whereby the
social boundaries between ethnic groups are maintained. Territoriality, history,
language and symbols may all serve as ethnic markers emphasizing distinctions
between one ethnic group and another.
 On the basis of religion, ethnic groups may be identified as Roman Catholics,
Protestants, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others. Politically, they may be
classified as persons or groups adhering to the ideology of democracy, socialism or
communism.
 They may also be differentiated on the basis of language, history or ancestry and
many other socio-cultural factors.
 As we can see from these definitions, both race and ethnicity in the sociological
sense are social constructs or socially defined labels. But there is an important
difference between them. Whereas, race is a label based on perceived physical
differences, ethnicity is a label based on perceived cultural differences.
 An ethnic group, in other words, is a category of people who perceive themselves
and are perceived by others as possessing shared cultural traits – such as language,
religion, family customs and food preferences.
 Race, on the other hand, refers to a population who perceived themselves and is
perceived by others as possessing distinctive physical characteristics that are
transmitted genetically through generations of inbreeding.

Social Consequences of Membership in Racial and Ethnic Groups

 In many societies throughout the world, membership in racial and ethnic groups
influences people’s social status and roles as they interact with others.
 Physical characteristics, especially skin color and certain distinctive cultural traits,
complexes and patterns, become badges for social and economic status. Frequently,
they establish a foundation for prejudice, discrimination and other forms of
differential treatment.
 Furthermore, when an ethnic group becomes a target of discrimination, such group
may utilize the unique physical or cultural traits as the rallying force for promoting
common loyalties and enhancing collective action. (Panopio, p.401)
 When people’s definition of physical characteristics greatly affects their relationship,
such definitions generally become interlinked with cultural differences. A classic
example is the white man’s justification of his technological, economic, political and
military superiority. Examples are such ideologies as the God-chosen race, the white
man’s burden, and more recently, the apartheid policy. These doctrines of racial
superiority and racial inferiority gave rise to the use of every inaccurate stereotypes
 in judging and relating with others, in the limitation of national quotas in mass
immigrations, in individual and institutional discrimination and persecution, in race
riots, in political and religious persecutions, and in local and global wars.
 These discriminatory treatments may take the form of peonage, military subjugation
and economic and political, educational, and social suppression (Panopio).
 Racial and ethnic membership leads to a sense of “people-hood” (Gordon, 1978).
 By this, we mean a sense of identification with a relatively small segment of the
world’s population – those who by virtue of common ancestry or heritage we
consider “our own kind”.
 Notions of race and ethnicity provide consciousness of oneness and in-group feeling
that “I am one of these” and “not one of those”. This compelling sense of racial and
ethnicity identity satisfies an important psychological need.
 As Erich Fromm wrote in 1941:
“The identity with nature, clan, and religion gives the individual security. He
belongs to, he is rooted in, a structuralized whole in which he has an
unquestionable place. He may suffer from hunger or suppression, but he
does not suffer from the worst of all pains – complete aloneness and doubt.”

 Racial and ethnic bonds foster social solidarity with others perceived as similar to
oneself and achieving economic and political goals. For instance, the belief in a
superior “white” race that accompanied colonial expansion did not much fuel and
justifies economic exploitation.
 Similarly, shared racial consciousness among 20th Century Africans did much to unite
previously warring tribes in the struggle for independence.

Patterns of Ethnic Group Relations

Theories of Prejudice
Light (1985) gives the following explanations on the origin of prejudice:
1. Economic Theory – assumes that racial prejudice is a social attitude transmitted by
the dominant ethnic majority class for the purpose of stigmatizing some groups as
inferior so that the exploitation of the group resources will be justified
2. Symbolic Theory – asserts that prejudice arises because a racial or ethnic group is a
symbol of what people hate, fear or envy
 3. Scapegoat Theory – maintains that human beings are reluctant to accept their
mistakes for their troubles and failures so they look for an ethnic – minority to
shoulder the blame
4. Social norm Theory – asserts that ethnocentrism is a natural development of group
living. Hatred and suspicion for the out-group are the standard and normal way of
doing things, particularly in dealing with people.
When all the members of a group are “pre-judged” as immoral, backward, violent
(or moral, peace-loving and brilliant), any evidence to the contrary in ignored. Members of
the prejudged group are not seen as individuals who may display behavior contrary to the
prejudged behavior. Prejudiced persons have develop inaccurate and unsupported beliefs
about persons or groups against whom their prejudice is directed. They tend to resist
scientifically established proofs against their fallacious beliefs.
Prejudice is manifested by one-sided arguments and judgments, a ready acceptance
of false ideas about a group, and the inflexibility with which such judgments and ideas are
upheld. However, it can also be subjected to change.
It is learned through social interaction with others. It is not biologically inherited but
is transmitted through primary and secondary means of communication.
It serves as a convenient device for identifying and classifying people. Both majority
and minority groups maintain a culture of jokes, epithets, clichés and ridiculing or
denigrating expressions to express symbolic aggression against each other , and the use of
stereotype conceptions.

Ethnic Groups in the Philippines

Ethnic groups in the Philippines are classified according to certain physical, cultural,
linguistic, religious and geographic criteria.
A. According to distinctive physical traits
B. According to cultural standpoints
C. According to linguistic groupings
D. According to religion
E. Muslims of Southern Philippines