Theories: Race and Reading Symbolic Ethnicity Essay

Submitted By kingpro
Words: 607
Pages: 3
Open Document
In the reading symbolic ethnicity is shown when it states that, “One girl carried a Guyanese map as part of her key chain so that when people looked at her keys they would ask her about it and she could tell them that her parents were from Guyana (Waters 369).” This shows that groups are reviving their ethnic heritage and consciously differentiating themselves from the rest of society. The girl wants everyone to know that she is Guyanese and wants to express her heritage and love for her home country. Another example is when it states that, “One young woman described having her mother teach her an accent so that she could use it when she applied for a job or a place to live. Others just try to work it into conversation when, they meet someone (Waters 369).” This young woman wants to accentuate her ethnic identity whenever she wants to. In the reading an example of the straight line theory is shown when it states that, “The boys adopt black American culture in their schools, wearing flattops, baggy pants, and certain types of jewelry (Waters 373).” This shows that the immigrants are on route to assimilate and will soon show greater similarities with the majority group than immigrants who have spent less time in the host society. This is the first stage of Gordon’s seven stages to straight line assimilation. This is the first stage of assimilation which is acculturation and it’s clearly evident that the immigrants have adopted language, dress, and daily customs of the black American. The reading also states that, “Among the respondents, some of the middle class had moved from the inner-city neighborhoods they had originally settled in to middle-class neighborhoods in the borough of Queens or to suburban areas where the schools were of higher academic quality and more likely to be racially integrated (Waters 376).” We can clearly see how the immigrants are assimilating, becoming more similar over time in norms, values, behaviors, and characteristics to the “host” society. Waters also states that, “other middle class parents sent their children to catholic parochial schools or to city wide magnet schools such as Brooklyn tech or Stuyvesant. Thus, the children were far more likely to attend school with other immigrants and with other middle class whites and blacks.” The children of the
Show More

Related Documents: Theories: Race and Reading Symbolic Ethnicity Essay

Three Perspectives: Functionalist, Conflict, Symbolic Interaction

3 Perspectives Assignment Using the 3 Perspectives (Functionalist, Conflict, Symbolic Interaction), discuss what each "type" of theorist would find interesting in the topic of "American patriotism." This video may exhibit one aspect of this issue: www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/politics/2012/06/27/orig-jtb-red-chair-lee-greenwood.cnn.html (CONFIRM THAT THIS IS THE TOPIC TO WRITE ON) The details of the story are not important—do not spend much time summarizing the issue. Concern yourself with…

Words 1574 - Pages 7

Essay on C2 Skeggs Bourdieu Intro

Although institutionally established as professor of sociology at the prestigious College de France his first substantive research was anthropological – on the Kabliya in Algeria (The Algerians 1958)1. From this he developed his ‘theories of practice’ in Outline of a Theory of Practice (1977) and The Logic of Practice (1980) moving to education: The Inheritors (1970), Reproduction in Education, Culture and Society (1977), Homo Academicus (1984), and The State Nobility (1989). His concerns then led…

Words 7453 - Pages 30

Essay about Soc 120 Intro Syl Spring 2015

number and leave a message PLUS a number to reach you. Texts: :Giddens: Essentials of Sociology 4th . REQUIREMENTS: 1. Quizzes: There are five quizzes in this class. Quizzes are multiple choice tests designed to see if you are keeping up with the reading and understand the major points made in class. You may drop the lowest quiz grade. Your average on these four quizzes will constitute 1/3 of your course grade. 2. Exams: There are also two exams: a mid-term and a final. Exams are composed of multiple…

Words 1220 - Pages 5

Who Am I ? Essay

Who am I? By Sache Priester Final Paper Sociological Theory Introduction Who am I? Hmm, sometimes I think I just don’t know. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be what I called “ambulance”. It wasn’t until I could really understand what that meant but I wanted to save lives. But of course, having the imagination I did, I later changed my mind – I want to be a Pediatrician. I had my high school career path down pack. I was going to go to George Mason then go to Medical…

Words 6572 - Pages 27

Popular Music Essay 1

‘What role does popular music play in the lives of young people in the context of their education?’ The two readings that I shall be looking at is ‘Creating Race: The Role of Taste in Youth’s Production of Identities’ by Nadine E Dolby and Lucy Green’s chapter on ‘ideology’. Introduction In my essay I will argue how the global and local concept of popular music is used as a means for young people to construct their identity. I shall discuss how informal learning pedagogies concerning popular music…

Words 3453 - Pages 14

Media Theory 1: Developing Argument?

THE MEDIA SCHOOL Level C UNIT: Media Theory 1: Developing Argument Semester 1 Framework Unit Guide Media Production Undergraduate Framework BA (Hons) / Dip HE / Cert HE Digital Media Design BA (Hons) / Dip HE / Cert HE Media Production BA (Hons) / Dip HE / Cert HE Scriptwriting for Film and Television BA (Hons) / Dip HE / Cert HE Radio BA (Hons) / Dip HE / Cert HE Television Production September 2014 (Version 1.4) Contents Developing Arguments: Overview of the Unit 1. Introduction…

Words 7241 - Pages 29

course notes Essay

CAGES - Structure (Structure of society) History (Historical events that influence individuals) i Power (Ability to control one’s own life or the lives of others’. Class Age Gender Ethnicity Sexuality Daniel Josephs Sociology Semester 2 2011 Lecture 2: Sociological history and theory (Modernizing) Modernism: A set of artistic practices Modernity: The key sociological category to describe the condition of being modern encompassing forms of industrialization, urbanization, extensive…

Words 8678 - Pages 35

Essay on Anthro EXAM REVIEW

Exam Review UNIT ONE: Anthropology ­ studies the origins, beliefs, development, and customs of humans. It interests in earliest forms of human race. Anthropology is divided into three groups: ● Physical ­ how humans have adapted ● Cultural ­ different societies are compared ● Social ­ studies social organization of people Questions anthropologists may ask include: ● how does the distant evolutionary past affect us today? ● how are humans different from apes? Fields of study include: ●…

Words 7683 - Pages 31

Essay Mr Rennie

ENTERTEXT Identity as Cultural Production in Andrea Levy's Small Island Author: Alicia E. Ellis Source: EnterText, “Special Issue on Andrea Levy 9,” (2012): 69-83. Abstract Andrea Levy's Small Island (2004) presents a counter-history of the period before and after World War II (1939-1945) when men and women from the Caribbean volunteered for all branches of the British armed services and many eventually immigrated to London after the war officially ended in 1945. Her historical novel moves…

Words 7826 - Pages 32

Example Research: Critical Discourse Analysis Essay

social and political context. With such dissident research, critical discourse analysts take explicit position, and thus want to understand, expose, and ultimately resist social inequality. Some of the tenets of CDA can already be found in the critical theory of the Frankfurt School before the Second World War (Agger 1992b; Rasmussen 1996). Its current focus on language and discourse was initiated with the "critical…

Words 9518 - Pages 39