Question

Read page 302 (The American Ethnic Hierarchy)

Describe the current ethnic hierarchy in American society.

What are the factors that are used to stratify groups in American society?

Do you agree with the assertion that our society has an ethnic hierarchy? Why or why not?

2 full paragraphs

Answer 1

Ethinicity is state of social group in which the members share commonness in physical features, traditions,customs,norms and values and beliefs. The members of ethinic group are bound by this string of commonness. The society of America is diverse in it's composition, as it comprises multiethnic groups in it from all the over world. However, there's a clear stratification of these ethinic groups in the American society due to historical and cultural reasons. The hierarchy of American society on the basis of it's ethinicity are:

• On top of this ethnic hierarchy are the White Anglo Saxon Protestants (WASPs). Their ancestry belongs to British protestant settlers who were among the first settlers in the land of America. They are politically and economically dominant ethinic group of the American society since the discovery and settlement period. They influence the social processes of the society and consider themselves superior to others.
• Next is the ethinic groups of European Catholics, Jews and Asians from Korea and Japan. They are the intermediate group between the top and the lower ethinic group. The current trend of this hierarchy is that, they are loosing their demarcation as they are merging into the top ethinic groups due to their economical and political growth and influence.
• The lower in this hierarchy, is the ethinic groups of Afro-Americans, Latinos, Natives Indians of America and other Asian ethinic groups. They are considered to be minorities and inferior in the hierarchical order. They do not enjoy political influence as majority ethnic groups. They are mostly the economically backward groups and are stratified in the lowest social order.

The factors that stratify the American society are economic position in the society, racial identity , political power and cultural dominance. There's a clear division of power in American society between the majority dominant group of European descendants and minority groups of Afro-Americans, Native Indians, Latinos and Asians. In the decision making process it's the dominant group that has upper hand because of their financial and political hold in the society. Thus, the assertion that American society has an ethinic hierarchy is true.