In sociology, the terms minority group, dominant group, race, and ethnicity have distinct meanings that help understand social stratification and power dynamics within societies.

Minority Group

A minority group is defined by several key characteristics:

– Subordination: Minority groups are those that lack power in society compared to the dominant group[2][3][5].
– Differential and Unequal Treatment: These groups are singled out for differential and unequal treatment due to their physical or cultural characteristics[2][3][5].
– Group Awareness: Members of minority groups often regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination[2][3].
– Identifiability: Minority groups are identifiable by certain traits that distinguish them from the dominant group[1][3].
– Involuntary Membership: Membership in a minority group is typically involuntary[3].

Dominant Group

A dominant group is characterized by:

– Power and Privilege: Dominant groups hold significant power and privilege within society, often favored by social, economic, political, and educational institutions[1][2][5].
– Positive Privilege: They are positively privileged and unstigmatized, contrasting with the subordinate status of minority groups[1].
– Majority Status: While not necessarily the numerical majority, dominant groups are those that hold the most power in a given society[2][3][5].

Ethnicity

Ethnicity refers to:

– Shared Culture: It describes shared culture, heritage, language, religion, and other commonalities among a group of people[2][3][5].
– National Origin: Ethnicity often includes national origin and can be complex, with individuals identifying with multiple ethnicities[2][5].

Race

Race is defined as:

– Superficial Physical Differences: It refers to superficial physical differences that a particular society considers significant[2][3][5].
– Social Construct: Race is fundamentally a social construct, changing across cultures and eras[2][5].

Key Points

– Lack of Power: The primary characteristic of a minority group is its lack of power, not necessarily its numerical size[2][3][4].
– Stratification: The social differences between dominant and minority groups are part of the broader concept of stratification, which studies inequality in society[1][4].
– Examples: Examples of minority groups include racial/ethnic minorities, but also groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community, who may face discrimination and lack power[1][3][5].

These definitions highlight the complex interplay between power, identity, and social structure in understanding minority and dominant groups within sociological contexts.

Sources:

– [1] socialsci.libretexts.org
– [2] rwu.pressbooks.pub
– [3] opened.cuny.edu
– [4] www.britannica.com
– [5] openstax.org