SOC 100 Online: Principles of Sociology

Elizabeth Olah
Assignment #5
For each of the following questions, use examples from each of the readings and/or videos
whenever possible to support your answers. Whenever you are asked to give an example, you
need to provide your own example; examples discussed in the book will not be accepted.

1. (a) What is race? What is ethnicity? How are these two concepts similar and/or different? (b)
Is race biological, or is race socially constructed? Be sure to provide some explanation for your
answer.
Answers should be approximately 1 paragraph (3 points)

Race refers to a person's physical characteristics, such as bone structure and skin, hair, or eye
color.Ethnicity is the shared culture, which may include heritage, language, religion, and more.
These two terms are connected because ones ethnicity is often based off of his/her race. For
example, ethnic groups such as Irish, Italian American, Russian, Jewish, and Serbian might all be
groups whose members are predominantly included in the white racial category. However, an
ethnic group such as British includes citizens from a multiplicity of racial backgrounds: black,
white, Asian, and more, plus a variety of race combinations. Some argue that race is more
socially constructed, because of how we label race and the way people interact with ones race.

Questions 2 & 3 are from the assigned video: Racism, Prejudice, and Discrimination
2. What is symbolic racism? How does symbolic racism differ from racism in general? Answer
these questions, and provide an example of both racism and symbolic racism.
Answers should be approximately a few sentences (4 points)

Symbolic racism is prejudice towards Black people in the United States. These beliefs include
the stereotype that Blacks are morally inferior to White people, and that they violate traditional
White American values such as hard-work and independence. This differs from racism, because
it is only only directed towards Black people. Racism is the belief that one racial category is
somehow superior or inferior to others; it is also a set of practices used by a racial majority to
disadvantage a racial minority. An example of symbolic racism would be if a white female
believed that all Black people are lazy and criminal. An example of racism is a business who
only hired a specific group of people.

3. (a) What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination? (b) What is the difference
between discrimination and institutional discrimination? (c) Provide examples of prejudice,
discrimination, and institutional discrimination.
Answers should be approximately 1 paragraph (3 points)

Prejudice refers to the beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes someone holds about a group. A
prejudice is not based on experience; instead, it is a prejudgment, originating outside actual
experience. Discrimination is actions against a group of people. Institutional discrimination is
actions against a group of people made by social institutions such as the government or schools.
An example of prejudice would be that all brown eyed people feel superior to those with
different colored eyes. Discrimination could someone protesting a church because of differing
religious beliefs. Unfair housing systems and biased hiring systems are examples of institutional
discrimination.

4. (a) What is gender? What is sex? How are these two concepts similar and/or different? (b) Is
gender biological, or is gender socially constructed? Be sure to provide some explanation for
your answer. (c) What are gender roles and how are they created?
Answers should be approximately 1-2 paragraphs (3 points)

Gender refers to behaviors, personal traits, and social positions that society attributes to being
female or male. Sex refers to physical or physiological differences between males and females,
including both primary sex characteristics (the reproductive system) and secondary
characteristics such as height and muscularity. A persons sex, as determined by his or her
biology, does not always correspond with his or her gender. Therefore, the terms sex and gender
are not interchangeable. Characteristics of gender, on the other hand, may vary greatly between
different societies. Therefore, gender is socially constructed. What is considered masculine in
America is very different in Ireland from clothing, hair, etc. Gender roles refers to societys
concept of how men and women are expected to look and how they should behave. These roles
are based on norms, or standards, created by society.

Question 5 is from the assigned video: Gender Wage Gap

5. Why do women, on average, earn less money than men? Discuss at least three factors that
contribute to lower earnings among women.
Answers should be approximately a few sentences (3 points)

In 2015, women received 80% of a full-time paycheck while men received the whole 100%.
Although there has been slow progress in increasing pay for women, there will not be total pay
equity with men until 2152 at the rate we are going. Location is a determining factor of pay for
women; for it varies from state to state. Ones racial/ethnic identity could affect the pay you
receive. Lastly, a womans education can (sometimes) affect their pay.

6. (a) Define the concepts of homophobia and heterosexism? (b) Why are these biases so
prevalent in our society? (c) Who is affected by these biases? Discuss some of these groups
specifically (d) What are some of the consequences of these biases for individuals and society?
Answers should be approximately 2-3 paragraphs (3 points)

Homophobia is an extreme or irrational aversion to homosexuals. Heterosexism is an

ideology and a set of institutional practices that privilege heterosexuals and heterosexuality over
other sexual orientations. This discrimination is heavily based off of stereotypes and
misinformation that is embedded in our society. People have constantly been surrounded by
policies and religious traditions that encourage this type of discrimination.
Anyone in the LGBTQ community is affected by this discrimination on daily bases. It
was not until recently that people from this community were allowed to be legally married. And
up until a few decades ago, there was no law to regulate unequal treatment in the workplace
towards those who belong in the LGBTQ community.

7. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is a statistic used to measure womens disadvantage in
three categories: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market. The index ranges from 0
(meaning that men and women fare equally) to 1 (meaning that women fare as poorly as possible
in all dimensions). Look at the GII for the U.S. and two other countries of your choice on this
website: http://hdr.undp.org/en/indicators/68606. What might explain the similarities/differences
in gender inequality between the U.S. and the other countries you chose? Provide a sociological
explanation.
Answers should be approximately 1-2 paragraphs (3 points)

The United States had a value of 0.203. Canada has 0.098, and the United Kingdom has 0.131.
Whats interesting is that the United States is considered by most the most liberating country in
the world. However, its female gender value suffers more than countries like Canada and the
United Kingdom. I think that these countries all hold similar sociological views and expectation
of women; however, the US still is behind in female equality compared to other countries.

Questions from Reading 12 in Sociology in Action (Mooney: Across America, Whites Are Biased
and They Dont Even Know It)

8. Is implicit bias the same as conscious bias? Why or why not?

Answers should be approximately 1 paragraph (2 points)

Implicit bias is the bias in judgment and/or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes
that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. This is
different from conscious bias, in which the a person is very aware that he/she is being bias.

9. What do the data suggest about bias in the U.S.? In what sections of the U.S. is bias strongest?
Answers should be approximately 1 paragraph (2 points)

The U.S. is split evenly as far as being bias. The most bias sections of the U.S. in which the bias
is strongest are the southern states. However, the midwest, west, and north eastern sections of the
U.S. are fairly unbiased.

10. What does this tell us overall about racial bias in the U.S.?
Answers should be approximately 1 paragraph (2 points)

What is frightening is that every single U.S. state holds white people who are biased. It is present
among all types of people: women, gays, liberals, etc. There is racial bias everywhere, meaning
that our country has many miles to go in order to achieve an unbiased nation.