Identity: Race, Culture, Gender, &

Sexuality ReviewCh. 5

Identity Big Ideas Identity Ethnicity

Distribution Ethnic Islands, Ethnic neighborhoods, Ethnic Conflict, &

Enclaves

Race Segregation

Gender Gendered Space Power Relationships

Sexuality

Identity How we make sense of ourselves We construct our own identities Vary across scales, & affect others across scales. Are fluid, constantly changing, shifting, &

becoming We work towards an identity that meshes with who

and where we are at any given point in time. We also define others

Identifying against – we define the “other” and define ourselves as “not the other”

What is Ethnicity? Often confused with culture

Includes culture, but also encompasses many other ideas

Based on how people choose to identify themselves A social group that defines itself based on factors such

as common culture traits or a common history, race, or geographic region.

Ethnicity Groups define what constitutes membership Several theories exist why humans organize

themselves into ethnic groups. Some believe people are born with an instinctive sense

of ethnic identity. Pervasiveness of ethnocentrism – attitude of cultural

superiority Ethnicity is socially constructed. Ethnic identity is a

result of the interaction among different groups of people.

Ethnic Neighborhoods At the smallest geographic scale, we can identify

ethnic neighborhoods in many towns and cities. Areas with concentrated populations of a particular

ethnic group Can change their ethnic identity over time

Ethnic groups can be locked into a distinct geographic area Historically, European Jews were restricted to certain

areas – ghettos Reflected the mistrust & ethnic hatred, but can provide

a degree of protection Spatial reasons for segregation

New laws can be passed Segregated groups can choose to live together rather

than assimilating or moving

Ethnic distribution - US US – every 10 years, Census conducts an

enumeration of the population Survey identifies three main ethnicities

Asian Americans – from countries in AsiaAfrican Americans – identify as a group with cultural origins in

AfricaHispanic – from Spanish-speaking countries

Ethnic groups may live in different regions and particular communities Hispanics – clustered in Southwest African-Americans – clustered in Southeast Asian Americans – clustered in the West

Ethnic Neighborhoods African American & Hispanic are highly

clustered in urban areas I.E. Chicago – neighborhoods in the south and

west side have extensive African American clusters

I.E. Los Angeles – African Americans in south-central; Hispanics in east; Asian Americans in south and west.

Ethnic Islands Larger than ethnic neighborhoods or ethnoburbs Ares of ethnic concentration in rural, or non-

urban areas Settled after the mid-19th century (US & Canada) Cluster migration – the settlement of a whole area en

masse by a particular ethnic group Chain migration also assisted in creation of ethnic

islands.

Ethnic conflict - competition Ethnicity and nationality are similar concepts in that

membership is defined through shared cultural values Nationality differs from ethnicity in terms of legal standing. Defined specifically through shared experiences derived from

voting, obtaining a passport, and performing civic duties.

Confusion between the two can lead to violent conflicts Lebanon – 60% Muslim & 40% Christian. Christians consider

themselves ethnically descended from the Ancient Phoenicians. When government system was created Christians controlled a majority.

Sri Lanka – 3 principal ethnicities (Sinhalese, Tamil, and Moors) dispute between Sinhalese and Tamil date back more than 2000 years. Tamil feel discriminated against by Sinhalese.

Ethnic conflict - divisionSouth Asia

Pakistan & India – basis of separation was ethnicityIndia majority HinduPakistan majority Muslim

KurdsLive in the Caucasus MountainsAfter WWI, created an independent state of Kurdistan1923 – became part of TurkeyToday, the Kurds are split among several countriesTurkey has tried repeatedly to suppress the Kurdish culture, including outlawing their language.

Ethnic Conflict – Cleansing & Genocide Ethnic cleansing – process where a more powerful ethnic group

forcibly removes a less powerful one to create ethnically homogeneous region Removal of all members of less powerful ethnicity – men & women,

young & old. In recent years , carried out primarily in Europe and Africa

Nazi Europe – deportation of Jews, Gypsies, & other undesirable groups

Bosnia (1993) – ethnic cleansing of the Bosnian Muslims Serb & Croats fought to reunite the portions that they inhabited with Serbia

and Croatia, respectively.

Kosovo (late 1990s) Part of Serbia, with ethnic Albanians compromised 90% of the

population Serbs launched a 4 part campaign of ethnic cleansing By 1999, had forced 750,000 pf the 2million Albanians from their

homes.

Ethnic Conflict – Cleansing & Genocide (continued)

Widespread in Africa because of the colonial boundaries.

Northeastern Africa – Sudan Arab nomads (Janjaweed) crushed Darfur’s black

population 480,000 killed; 2.8 million forced to live in refugee

camps

Somalia Several different ethnic groups vying for control

Rwanda (1994) – Hutus vs. Tutsi Congo (late 1990s) – Hutus & Mayi Mayi vs. Tutsi

Race A categorization of humans based on skin color & other

physical characteristics Categories are social & political constructions because

they are based on ideas that some biological differences are more important than others

An identity that is often assigned.

SegregationResidential segregation

Historically states, cities, & towns passed laws outlining residential segregation

Disallowing the migration of certain racial groups into neighborhoods.

Douglas Massey & Nancy Denton – defined as a degree to which two or more groups live separately from one another, in different parts of the urban environment.

Most residentially segregated large metropolitan area for African Americans is Milwaukee WisconsinSecond, Detroit Michigan

Least segregated area is Orange County, California; followed by San Jose, California.

Gender Refers to the societal norms and behaviors that are

expected of males or females. Geographers have increasingly looked at gender as

a source of identity. Believe that society shapes spaces based on socially

defined gender roles & that gender affects the way we interact with the world. Gendered – places designed for women or for men.

Gender roles are not the same in all countries.

Power Relationships Assumptions and structures about who is in control,

who has power over others. Affect identities directly and cultural landscapes Can also subjugate entire groups of people.

Society enforces ideas about the ways people should behave

Women in Sub-Saharan Africa Populate much of the rural areas. Society and governments work in conjunction to subjugate

women Have heavy responsibilities and few rights. Produce estimate 70% of the regions food

India – Dowry Deaths Murders of brides (often by burning) when a

dispute arises over dowry Difficult to “legislate away” the power relationships

that lead to dowry deathsWomen still remain disempowered in much of Indian

societiesFemale infanticide is also tied to the

disempowerment of women. Rescaling issues to the global scale has the

potential to draw attention to the social ills.

Sexuality Cultures decide what is “normal” sexually Glen Elder, Lawrence Knopp, Heidi Nast – argue that most

social science is written in a heteronormative way The default subject in the minds of the academics who write

studies is heterosexual, white, & male. Initial forays focused largely on where people with shared

“identity” cluster. Today, focusing not only on the distribution but also on the

theories behind the experiences, that explain and inform our understanding of sexuality and space.

Employ queer theory Theory that “highlights the contextual nature of opposition to the

heteronormative and focuses on the political engagement of “queers” with the heteronormative”