In fact, some interactionists propose that the symbols of race, not race itself, are what lead to racism.

Interactionismįor symbolic interactionists, race and ethnicity provide strong symbols as sources of identity. Consider the way slave owners justified slavery in the antebellum South, by suggesting Black people were fundamentally inferior to White and preferred slavery to freedom. How can racism and discrimination contribute positively to society? Nash (1964) focused his argument on the way racism is functional for the dominant group, for example, suggesting that racism morally justifies a racially unequal society. This concept, sometimes, can be problematic. In the view of functionalism, racial and ethnic inequalities must have served an important function in order to exist as long as they have. Consider how much money, time, and effort went toward maintaining separate and unequal educational systems prior to the civil rights movement. On the other hand, Rose (1951) suggested that dysfunctions associated with racism include the failure to take advantage of talent in the subjugated group, and that society must divert from other purposes the time and effort needed to maintain artificially constructed racial boundaries. Consider how a community might increase solidarity by refusing to allow outsiders access. To restore the society’s pre-disturbed state or to seek a new equilibrium, the police department and various parts of the system require changes and compensatory adjustments.Īnother way to apply the functionalist perspective to race and ethnicity is to discuss the way racism can contribute positively to the functioning of society by strengthening bonds between in-group members through the ostracism of out-group members. For example, the killing of a Black man George Floyd by a White police officer in 2020 stirred up protests demanding racial justice and changes in policing in the United States. This creates tension and conflict resulting in temporary dysfunction of the social system. Problems arise when one or more racial or ethnic groups experience inequalities and discriminations. Hence, we can observe people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds interacting harmoniously in a state of social balance. Functionalismįunctionalism emphasizes that all the elements of society have functions that promote solidarity and maintain order and stability in society. As you read through these theories, ask yourself which one makes the most sense and why. We can examine race and ethnicity through three major sociological perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Theoretical Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity Identify examples of culture of prejudice.Describe how major sociological perspectives view race and ethnicity.By the end of this section, you should be able to:

Structural functional theory crime