Race and Ethnicity

Catalog description

Race and ethnicity are axes of stratification, identity, and experience, which often goes unrecognized. In studying the ¿social construction¿ of these concepts, we investigate how meanings and values are attached to them in ways that rationalize and justify social inequality. Race and ethnicity shape society, life-chances, and social interactions in multiple, intersecting ways. We analyze their significance in institutional and interpersonal contexts, including the labor force, the media, culture, and the justice system. We will discuss the role of race and ethnicity in the future, evaluating solutions to social inequality and strategies for social change.