What Are Minority Groups?

Race and Ethnicity SOCI 1306 What Are Minority Groups? According to sociologist Louis Wirth (1945), a minority group is "any group of people who regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination because they are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment because of their physical or cultural characteristics." This definition emphasises how discrimination is intimately associated with the term "minority," and how the terms "subordinate group" and "minority group" may be used interchangeably in sociological contexts. On the other hand, the group that is in the majority or represents the rulers and has access to privileges and authority within a society is frequently referred to as the dominant group. These definitions support the idea that in a society, the dominant group is the one with the greatest power and the subordinate groups are the ones with less power. Remarkably, a group need not be numerically small to qualify as a minority; in fact, bigger organisations may qualify as minorities in some cases because of their relative powerlessness. A minority, or subservient group, is primarily characterised by this lack of authority. For example, in South Africa during the apartheid era, the White minority took advantage of and oppressed the country's Black population, which made up the majority. A minority group can be identified by five characteristics, according to Charles Wagley and Marvin Harris (1958): unequal treatment and less control over their lives; physical or cultural traits that set them apart, such as language or skin colour; involuntary group membership; awareness of subordination; and a high rate of in-group marriage. The LGBTQ community, those with impairments, and religious practitioners whose faith is not generally practiced where they reside are more instances of minority groups. Power relations and sociocultural structures provide more insight into the idea of minority and subordinate groups. According to Wirth and Wagley and Harris, a minority group is a group that is marginalised and experiences systematic discrimination and oppression rather than just being a statistical minority. This perspective emphasises that a group's minority status is intrinsically linked to its place within society's power structure, moving the emphasis from numbers to power relations. This viewpoint is essential to understanding the ways in which various communities deal with and experience social injustices. The LGBTQ community, for instance, frequently experiences discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. LGBTQ people typically face obstacles to equitable treatment in areas like work, healthcare, and legal rights, despite being a varied and sizable group. Social norms and social structures that support heterosexuality and cisgender identities are the source of this prejudice. Similar to this, people of different religious backgrounds, such Muslims in countries where Christianity is the majority or Christians in countries where Islam is the majority, may face discrimination and marginalisation because of their beliefs. This unfair treatment can take many different forms, ranging from violent hate crimes to social exclusion, highlighting the significant influence that one's religious affiliation has on their social status. Individuals with disabilities are a minority population that faces substantial challenges from society. Discrimination in school, work, and social interactions is frequently the outcome of mental and physical disability. People with disabilities are marginalised due to societal attitudes and institutional restrictions, which restrict their prospects and maintain their status as inferiors. The lived realities of discrimination and oppression are shaped by the intersections of several characteristics, including race, gender, ability, and religion. These instances demonstrate the intersectionality of minority group experiences. Scapegoating is a notion that is closely related to the interactions between dominant and minority groups. Dollard's (1939) Frustration-hostility theory served as the foundation for the scapegoat hypothesis, which holds that a dominating group would direct its undirected hostility onto an inferior group. The dominant group uses this displacement as a way to express its resentment and hold onto its privilege and power. Scapegoating is a historical phenomenon in which minority groups have been unjustly held responsible for society issues. During the Holocaust, one of the most well-known cases of scapegoating took place when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi government held the Jewish people responsible for Germany's social and economic woes. The systematic persecution and killing of six million Jews were made possible by this scapegoating, highlighting the disastrous results of such processes. Scapegoating has been a common issue in the US, especially with regard to immigration. Throughout history, new immigrants have often been held accountable for the problems facing the country or individual citizens. Because of this blaming, regulations intended to further cement immigrants' inferior position have frequently been enacted, so depriving them of their rights. For example, in times of economic recession, immigrants have been charged with displacing native-born Americans from their employment, which has resulted in xenophobic discourse and legislation. Because they serve as an easy scapegoat for more significant social and economic problems, diverting attention from structural concerns and preserving preexisting power structures, these laws and regulations are well-liked by the dominant group. Scapegoating is not just something that happens to immigrants; it also happens to other minority groups in society. For instance, despite proof that institutional racism and structural inequality are the underlying causes of crime and social disorder, African Americans have long been used as scapegoats for these problems. By providing justification for unfair policies like racial profiling, mass imprisonment, and police brutality, scapegoating has helped to maintain the oppressive system and uphold African Americans' inferior status. Comparably, the LGBTQ community has been used as a scapegoat for social and moral decay, which has resulted in legislation that discriminate against them and social shame. Scapegoating is a phenomena that exposes the ingrained desire of dominant groups to target and persecute a shared adversary in order to preserve their privilege and power. This approach unites the majority against a perceived danger, consolidating the dominant group's power while deflecting attention from systemic problems and the group's own shortcomings. Though it comes at the price of the rights and welfare of the subordinate group, scapegoating is a potent tactic for fostering social cohesiveness among the dominant group. It is essential to comprehend the dynamics of both dominant and minority groups, along with the mechanisms of scapegoating, in order to solve social inequality and promote a more inclusive society. Dismantling these power structures calls for a multipronged strategy that includes activism, education, and legislative reforms. Equal treatment under the law and protection from discrimination against minority groups are two benefits of legal changes. Education campaigns can increase knowledge of minority groups' past and present experiences, promoting compassion and understanding. The voices of marginalised populations may be amplified via advocacy initiatives, which can push for structural changes that advance justice and fairness. To sum up, sociological definitions and ideas pertaining to dominant and minority groups, together with the notion of scapegoating, offer significant insights into the power structures that influence society interactions. Minority groups encounter several types of oppression that overlap with characteristics including ability, gender, colour, and religion. They are defined by their lack of authority and institutional discrimination. Both historically and now, dominant groups have utilised the tactic of scapegoating—which involves blaming and punishing minority groups for larger social and economic problems—in order to hold onto their power. In order to address these dynamics, a complete strategy that promotes justice and equality for all societal members must be implemented, including advocacy, educational, and legislative initiatives.