Race and Ethnicity

Catalog description

Race and ethnicity are axes of stratification, identity, and experience. They are often taken for granted or go unrecognized by some. In this course, we will address the multiple and intersecting ways these concepts shape society, individual life-chances, and daily social interactions. Studying the “socially-constructed” nature of the concepts of race and ethnicity, we ask what meanings and values social actors have attached to them, and we inquire into the ways the social constructions help to rationalize and justify social inequality. We will analyze the significance of race and ethnicity in a variety of institutional and interpersonal contexts, including the labor force, the media, culture, and the criminal justice system. We will discuss the role of race and ethnicity in the future, evaluating solutions to social inequality and strategies for social change.