California Demographics

879 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: USA foreign policy

California Demographics Throughout the United States and elsewhere in the world it is possible to see that societies are undergoing processes of demographic transformation. In many cases this transformation comprises either an ageing or a rejuvenation of society. However, there are also cases in which this transformation also includes an ethnic dimension. In the state of California, ethnic minorities have for years threatened the state’s white plurality. In fact, the latest information released by the federal government confirmed that there are now living more Latinos in the state of California than there are Whites (Panzar, 2015). The loss of White plurality owes to the fact that other ethnicities have grown at faster rates, and it not irrational …show more content…

In cases where societies are culturally and ethnically diverse, there will be a dominant or majority group; there will also be minority groups. Each of these groups will have its own sets of values and these values will affect behaviors at the individual and collective levels. This being said, it is relevant to mention that socialization is affected by social identification, a process wherein individuals will identify with one particular group and act in a manner that enhances that group’s standing in the wider context of society (Frazier, 2010). The process of social identification leads to the progressive consolidation of social fault lines or boundaries; this inevitably leads to social …show more content…

The White majority has taken advantage of its plurality in order to enact laws and policies that further the interests of American Whites, often times ignoring people of color, i.e. the members of minorities. This progression of social inequality with tis political, economic, and even cultural undertones, has led to the perpetuation of racism in the United States: “… in order to prevent Blacks from participating fully in the American social contract, authority devolved from the federal government to state and local authorities, which could then exclude blacks overtly or covertly” (Conley, 2013, p. 64). Focusing specifically on the state of California, it is possible to see that up until very recently Whites were a consolidated majority, and this led to the marginalization of minorities, particularly Blacks. However, if people of color were to overtake Whites and this group was to fall into becoming a minority, then people of color would seek to revert the policies and laws that have historically kept them

Show More
Related

  • Harrison Bergeron By Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    The world is filled with many different types of societies and cultures. This is due to the fact that many people share dissimilar beliefs and ideas, as well as diverse ways of life. People lived under different circumstances and stipulations, therefore forming cultures and societies with ideas they formulated, themselves. These two factors, society and culture, are what motivate people to execute the things that they do. Many times, however, society and culture can cause downgrading effects to an assemblage if ever it is corrupt or prejudiced. Society and culture not only influences the emotions individuals have toward things like age differences, religion, power, and equality but also the actions they perform as a result.

    Read More

  • Myths of the Melting Pot

    1981 Words  | 4 Pages

    concerns racial equality in America. The myth of the “Melting Pot” is a farce within American society, which hinders Americans from facing societal equality issues at hand. Only when America decides to face the truth, that society is not equal, and delve into the reasons why such equality is a dream instead of reality. Will society be able to tackle suc...

    Read More

  • The Latino Journey in the United States: Immigrants

    1699 Words  | 4 Pages

    A diverse minority group of Latino and Spanish-speaking peoples has played an important part of what it means to be American and what it means to be a citizen in the United States today. Moving into the future, in order to analyze the trajectory that this group is in, we must first understand the group’s history in the United States and in territories that would become the United States. In addition, we must look at the origins of the most recent wave of Latino immigration in order to understand their current effect on American society and the intersection between both minority and majority groups. Finally, we get to the apex of this investigation: what lies in the future for Latino Americans in the United States? Although Latino Americans have been portrayed by the majority American culture as a lazy, thieving, and dirty people, their presence in the United States has immensely contributed to it’s development socially, economically, and politically, and their continued presence seems integral to the future of an America that is fast arriving at an age-related demographics problem that threatens our continued prosperity and the solvency of the Social Security system.

    Read More

  • Assimilation: the Latino Experience

    1920 Words  | 4 Pages

    Immigration has always been an issue in the United States, which is often portrayed as harmful and as major threat to American culture. As a result, various anti immigration policies have been aimed against immigrants in order to prevent and preserve the miscegenation of American culture, such as English only policies. Among the largest minority groups in the U.S, are Latinos who currently compose of 15% of the U.S population (Delgado and Stefancic 3). Unfortunately, Latinos have been accused of taking American benefits, jobs, and have wrongfully been depicted as a result of not assimilating to American culture. Latinos are often accused of resisting assimilation, but what has failed to be acknowledged is that there are obstacles set in place that are preventing Latinos from completely assimilating. Among those greatest obstacles there is discrimination. Institutional as well as individual discrimination have prevented many Latinos from feeling a sense of belonging. As a result Latinos have been reluctant to assimilate. Another major component is proximity. Many Latinos are native to nearby countries which allows for easy communication with family members as well as their culture. Moreover, it also allows for a constant influx of immigrants that replenish and preserve Latino cultures and traditions in the U.S. Lastly, Latino movements are working diligently to promote unity among communities for the purpose of creating a sense of identity and pride amongst Latinos, such as the Chicano movement.

    Read More

  • The Latino Socioeconomic

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cardenas, V., Kerby, S. (2012). The state of Latinos in the United States. Retrieved from www.americanprogress.org

    Read More

  • California's Cultural And Cultural Diversity In California

    764 Words  | 2 Pages

    California is full of beauty, a beauty that is constantly glamourized, and falsely advertised. There is a constant battle against the stereotypes presented in the media, which have created a false image of this massive state. The media presents an insufficient amount of information about California that impedes the outsiders to fully understand the beauty of this state. The media focuses on the tourist attractions of California, like, beaches, Los Angeles, Hollywood, and San Francisco. Although these attractions are appealing, the spotlight should also highlight the impoverished cities, the cultural and geographical diversity. The diversity here in California is clearly visible, which is something that is not clearly seen all over the United

    Read More

  • Evaluating the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Social Identity Theory

    988 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some of the strengths of the social identity theory are that; throughout the years it has supported many empirical studies, it has also demonstrated the social categorization in intergroup behaviors, allowed us to differentiate between social and personal identities and has provide explanations for other areas of psychology (conformity). A weaknesses of the Social identity theory is that its application is restricted in the sense that it has very low ecological validity. Another weakness is that SIT favors situational factors rather than dispositional is not supported by evidence. The social Identity theory can be used to how to explain how we form our social and personal identities in the terms of in and out groups. SIT can also be used to explain why there is conflict between humans and different societies.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Social Identity Theory

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    In all aspects of their lives we associate with various groups, for example demographic, cultural or peer groups. Social Identity theory developed by Henri Tajfel in 1979 explains how people develop a sense of belonging and membership in particular groups. This theory explains behaviors in terms of social groups, we form social groups and create perceptions of others and ourselves that are influenced by the various groups to which we belong. A social group is a set of individuals who hold a common social identification or view themselves as members of the same social category (Chen & Li, 2009). Individuals can have multiple, co-occurring identities which could vary. This paper aims to explain how the Social Identity theory is used to explain violence and prejudice behavior and it also looks at the advantages and disadvantages of this theory compared to other theories in explaining the same behavior.

    Read More

  • Los Angeles; A Diverse Metropolis

    2041 Words  | 5 Pages

    Despite having to battle discrimination and poor neighborhoods, second and third generation Mexican-Americans have made a great strife to overcome large obstacles. Mexican-Americans are finally gaining representation in city government representing the 9.6 million Mexican residents of Los Angeles. White politicians can no longer ignore Mexicans in Los Angeles, as former mayor Richard Riordan saw in the elections of 1997, in which his re-election was largely in part to the high turnout of Mexican voters in his favor. Although Capitalism still exists in the greater Los Angeles, its influence is not as great as it was fifty years ago. Los Angeles continues to serve as the breeding grounds for new cultures, ideologies, and alternative lifestyles. The pursuit of the American Dream becomes a reality for most immigrants in LA. LA is a great place to live, party, and be from. I knew little about the history of Los Angeles prior to this course, but now I am well prepared to answer the question of, “What makes Los Angeles, Los Angeles?”

    Read More

  • My Ethnic Identity Essay: This Is Who I Am

    1348 Words  | 3 Pages

    Times are changing and I feel like I am forced to conform to the everyday social norms of America, which makes me feel impuissance. Racial identity, which refers to identifying with a social group with similar phenotypes and racial category, is the only experience that I have with life (Organista, 2010). Racial ethnicity was used to build my self-esteem and to keep me in the dark when it came to how society treats individuals of darker complexion. However, once I left the confines of my family and neighborhood, I was forced to befriend and interact with individuals that had different cultural values and beliefs than me. This experience caused me to learn how to appreciate other racial and ethnic groups and their cultural values and belief. This is an accurate definition, of acculturation because I was able to understand and fit in with individuals different from me, while maintaining my own culture and ethnic identity. Therefore, knowing the importance of my ancestry, while acculturating and developing my own identity was all used

    Read More

  • Socialization Process In Māori Culture

    1256 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Socialization is the process through which people are taught to be proficient members of a society. It describes the ways that people come to understand societal norms and expectations, to accept society’s beliefs, and to be aware of societal values” (Little, n.d., chap.5). The Socialisation process also helps individuals achieve a sense of who they are as a person. “During socialization, we learn the language of the culture we are born into as well as the roles we are to play in life” (O’Neil, 2002-2011, para. 1). For example, women from many countries have to adapt to the culture of not being able to do things the men do. O’Neil (2002-2011, para. 2) states “While much of human personality is the result of our genes, the socialization process

    Read More

  • Social Influences On Social Influence

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    Group polarization is a key component to social influence. It makes people feel as though they have a group they can be recognized with. “ And it should come as no surprise that the attitudes and beliefs we bring to a group grow stronger when we talk with others who share them. . . and it often translates into a nasty ‘us’ vs ‘ them’ dynamic’’ ( Yale

    Read More

  • Conformity In Society Essay

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the help of mass media such as television, magazines, radio, music and technology, conformity has devalued the way we make decisions. People no longer think for themselves but for others. Acceptance and wanting to belong to a group is a very common human want, some would even go as far as to call it a basic need for a social life. But how does this need or want affect an individual? Numerous experiments have been conducted and social psychologists conclude that, through various forms of social influence, groups can change their members’ thoughts, feelings, and

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Socialization: The Development Of Mass Media And Technology

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    Socialization is the process where people learn the attitudes, values and behaviors that are appropriate for members of a particular culture. During socialization people learn about societal norms as well as how to communicate and interact with others. Humans are not born with the understanding of how to behave properly in society, this is something that we learn as we grow and discover the self, a distinct identity of who we are, that emerges from our interactions with society. The development of the self is influenced by socializing agents which are used to transmit culture. Socializing agents include family, school, peer groups, and mass media and technology which all have both positive and negative impacts on the development of the self.

    Read More

  • Socialization and Social Stratification

    1930 Words  | 4 Pages

    Socialisation is a learning process where people learn and adapt to the appropriate and accepted values, attitudes and behaviours of their society. Nevertheless, separate groups exist within societies for reasons including ethnicity, class and culture and these can bring their own set of ‘norms’. Bond and Bond in Sociology and Social Care (2009 pg28) states “From the cradle to the grave we are being socialised”. Primary socialisation occurs from infancy to early adulthood. Secondary socialisation follows into the later stages of maturity. Anticipatory socialisation is where we learn to anticipate the actions and activities deemed appropriate by society. Resocialisation occurs when we learn new behaviours in response to new situations and in contrast to behaviours previously learnt and accepted. This can happen when someone receives a prison sentence. They must learn the rules deemed appropriate by those in authority and adapt to shared living and expectations of conduct with other inmates. Throughout the stages of life we learn new skills to deal with different situations. This socialisation process occurs as a result of involvement from agents; ‘situations and people involved in the process of imparting shared social ideas, values and skill’(pg30). Agents include family, peer groups, educational structures and the media. We learn through observation, knowledge and experience. Social Stratification is a hierarchically organised system that classifies people according to power, wealth and status. Sociological perspectives such as functionalism and conflict theory view this practice differently. Functionalism thrives on maintaining structures within society and the people that adhere to the rules of those structures. It views social...

    Read More

More about California Demographics

Open Document