Verified Document

Ethnicity Can Be Somewhat Apparent, But It Essay

Ethnicity can be somewhat apparent, but it is not always apparent. To understand this, it is important to keep in mind that ethnicity is different from race. "Ethnicity refers to selected cultural and sometimes physical characteristics used to classify people into groups or categories considered to be significantly different from others" (O'Neill, 2006). In America, there are several different commonly recognized ethnic identities including American Indians, Latinos, Chinese, African-Americans, and European-Americans, some of which are identifiable by physical characteristics, and others of which are not as readily identifiable by appearance. For example, the combination of dark skin, kinky hair, and prominent facial features may identify a person as African-American, but it is oftentimes more difficult for non-Asians to determine an Asian-American person's specific ethnicity because Asian-Americans share similar skin tone, hair color, and some facial characteristics. Many European-Americans cannot distinguish European ethnic groups based on physical characteristics Ethnic identity can be both positive and counterproductive. Ethnic identity provides many people with a link...

For new immigrant groups, ethnicity may mean shared language and cultural traditions and a link to "home." Whether one views this as positive or negative may depend upon whether one views America as a melting pot, where immigrants are expected to assimilate to a single American identity, or a salad bowl where the distinct elements are part of the mix.
One of the reasons that ethnic identity can be counterproductive is that some members of ethnic groups use "ethnic" behavior to limit themselves. For example, cultural identity for many African-Americans in urban American is associated with a certain use of language and certain choices in clothing which may render them unemployable outside of that ethnic group (and even by other members of that ethnic group who do not agree with that particular interpretation of cultural identity).

One of the biggest dilemmas that indigenous people faced regarding assimilation is attaining the formal education necessary to function in "American" society without compromising native cultural traditions or beliefs. At this time, education on reservations is widely recognized to be, on average,…

Sources used in this document:
References

Bear, C. (2008, May 12). American Indian boarding schools haunt many. Retrieved January

28, 2012 from NPR website: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16516865

O'Neill, D. (2006). "Overview." Ethnicity. Retrieved January 27, 2012 from Palomar College

website: http://anthro.palomar.edu/ethnicity/ethnic_1.htm
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Social Inequality in Canada Prejudice
Words: 3552 Length: 11 Document Type: Thesis

Those individuals that are at the low end of the spectrum when it comes to earning wages would be happy to see more money in their paychecks as well, and many of the women that were in the workforce during that time were able to perform the jobs just as well as the men could but they were generally not allowed the opportunity (Frager & Patrias, 2006). Even for

Vitamin D Is a Group of Fat-Soluble
Words: 1823 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble molecules known as secosteroids. Vitamin D itself is a fat-soluble vitamin that is not available in many foods. However, photochemically, it is produced when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger Vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D externally, though, is biologically inert in the human body, and "must undergo two hydroxylations in the body. The first occurs in the liver and converts

Elearning the Impact of E-Learning
Words: 5767 Length: 20 Document Type: Research Paper

Carrington's (2001) study focuses on a diversity of learning strategy potentials that is constructed not by way of race or ethnicity, but by individualized media preferences and sensory strategies for learning. Carrington presents the conclusion that such methods of literacy development which occur in one's formative stages before school will reveal learning dispositions. For example, her examination recognizes that early exposure to the internet bears a positive correlation to one's

Namely, Evaluating the Structure of
Words: 580 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

E., combination classes or multi-grade and single grade classes). Further, operationalizing the terms context and composition would have greatly aided the reader in interpreting the study's results. Study Purpose. Burns and Mason (2002) did follow best fit research practice protocol by stating the purpose of the study as that being to study student achievement with respect to the effects of class composition. However, this reviewer would have like to see more

Diversity Management With Respect to
Words: 8378 Length: 30 Document Type: Thesis

Today, it is not uncommon for managerial leadership to be drawn from one pool and placed in the other in order to facilitate greater intimacy between operational aspects separated by geography and culture. Though this strategy brings with it a number of notable benefits with regard to the coordination of global operations, it does also bear with it a number of challenges which fall upon the Human Resources department

Dental Care in Ethnic Populations Over 65
Words: 580 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Dental Care in Ethnic Populations Over 65 Borrell, L.N., Burt, B.A., and Neighbors, H.W. (2004, May). Social Factors and Periodontitis in an Older Population. American Journal Public Health. 94(5), 748 -- 754. PMCID: PMC1448332 This article discusses the relationship between age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and educational level with respect to oral dental health and particularly focuses on periodontitis. Research and conventional wisdom have long pointed to poorer health outcomes for people with

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now