The Student Room Group

The man of the street vs the sociologists definitions of racism

Do sociologists have a different definition of racism from the average man on the street?
Original post by Arran90
Do sociologists have a different definition of racism from the average man on the street?


Why dont you give us both versions? What is wrong with a dictionary definition?
Original post by Arran90
Do sociologists have a different definition of racism from the average man on the street?

Are there multiple definitions?

There may well be people who defend their casual racism with phrases lik, "I'm not racist, my mates are [insert race here]"
Reply 3
Racism is pretty well defined already. Just pick up a dictionary.

Of course, some, mainly on the left, like to try and define it their own way to push an agenda. I.e. Racism only applies when there is an element of power involved, hence why some believe blacks can't be racist. This is, of course, absolutely *******s.
Reply 4
The sociologists position is:

1. They do not accept the existence of race as a biological construct. They believe that biologically there is only the human race.

2. They believe that race is a social construct that has its roots back in the era of colonialism and slavery.

3. Racism is used to describe a form of hostile and negative behaviour by the majority or the mainstream in society against a group of people where the group is defined as an out-group.

4. The out-group is a result of one or more of several potential factors including their skin colour, their nationality, their culture and identity, their religion, their language, or the fact they are taking the jobs of the majority or the mainstream in society.

The man on the street position is:

1. Race exists as a biological construct.

2. Racism is used to describe a form of hostile and negative behaviour against a group of people of a particular biological race.

3. Racism can be directed at people of any race by people of any race regardless of the sizes of the groups in question, as opposed to the majority or the mainstream of society against a group of people smaller in number.

4. Hostile and negative behaviour against a group of people resulting from non-biological factors such as culture and identity, religion, or the fact they are taking the jobs of the majority or the mainstream in society, is not racism.
Reply 5
Original post by Mike172
Of course, some, mainly on the left, like to try and define it their own way to push an agenda. I.e. Racism only applies when there is an element of power involved, hence why some believe blacks can't be racist. This is, of course, absolutely *******s.

The SWP position is that racism (in the UK and other post-colonial western societies) is the sum of prejudice and power. When structural power and prejudice combine, then racism is the consequence and the outcome. Since ethnic minorities (in the UK) lack privilege and power, and are the victims of structural discrimination, it follows that it is impossible for them to be racist. To recognise that racism can be directed at white people by ethnic minorities, or carried out by ethnic minorities against other ethnic minorities, is therefore a concession to racism.
Reply 6
An out-group in society could also result from sexual orientation, disability, benefits scrounging, or criminal convictions.

Under the sociologists definition of racism it is therefore technically possible to be racist towards a white British person with cerebral palsy or because they are a long term benefits claimant.
Original post by Arran90
The sociologists position is:

1. They do not accept the existence of race as a biological construct. They believe that biologically there is only the human race.

(...)

1. Race exists as a biological construct.



Another silly misunderstanding by people who like to argue about words and to get nowhere.

That fact is, that there are some biological differences between groups of people. However to you wish to call it: Races, genres, ancient tribes, arakadoo or brzęczyszczykiewicze.

Racism is when someone believes that one person is superior to another, just because of it's skin color and other differences alike, eg. straight or curly hair.

Effectively it also happens when someone believes that some people should either be priviledged or discriminated, because those features. Eg. to get or not to get a job, depending not on the individual capacity, but on the skin color.

Everything else are just different conventions of describing the factual event. Same as writing either 5 or V, or 3 or III.

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