Subordinate group
A subordinate group refers to a segment of society that experiences a structured inequality, which affects their access to resources, power, and opportunities. Unlike numerical minorities, the defining feature of subordinate groups is their disproportionate lack of access to societal wealth, education, employment, and adequate housing. These groups are often defined by characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, and gender, and their status is determined by the dominant group within the society. The relationships between subordinate and dominant groups are maintained through various mechanisms, including ideological justifications for inequality and discriminatory practices. Ethnic subordinate groups are often singled out for cultural distinctions, while racial subordinate groups may be identified by perceived physical differences. Additionally, the concept of intersectionality highlights how multiple identities can impact the experiences of individuals within subordinate groups. The dynamics of these relationships are crucial for understanding broader social structures and the perpetuation of inequality.
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Subordinate group
The identification of subordinate groups is based on socially determined systems of structured inequality. These systems of societal stratification influence the control that members of different groups have over their lives, the power they wield, and their access to valued resources. Subordinate groups, sometimes called minority groups, are not determined by numerical size but by the fact that they do not share proportionately in societal wealth, educational attainment, suitable employment, adequate housing, and other socially valued resources. This stratification system is created and maintained through the actions of dominant groups who benefit from this unequal relationship. The important characteristics or traits that define membership in a subordinate group vary across time and place but are determined by the dominant group. The main categories of subordinate groups most often include those based on race, ethnicity, religion, and gender. Ethnic subordinate groups are singled out for their cultural differences from the dominant group’s cultural norms. Racial subordinate groups are distinguished by some perceived physical difference from the dominant group. In the intersectionality framework, multiple categories of subordinate groupings may interact. The tactics used by dominant groups to ensure their advantaged societal position include ideological rationalizations for inequality and discrimination based on prejudices, as well as repressive actions ranging from segregation to extermination.
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