Good Example Of Essay On Ethnicity In The United States

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According to Merger (2015), sociology is a scientific study that involves the use of various methods to investigate and analyze social behavior in order to develop a bank of knowledge about the dynamics of social change. The study involves investigating the origins, institutions and organizations in the development of human society. Further, Merger (2015) argues that a concept is an idea or notion that is derived from certain occurrences. Based on the definitions above, Sociological concepts are, therefore, general ideas that are derived from the scientific study of the dynamics of human social behavior over the years. There are various terms and theories that are used to bring out sociological concepts. Some of the most common ones include alienation, accommodation, assimilation, the conflict theory and caste among others (Merger, 2015).
For instance, America provides the best avenue for demonstrating sociological concepts and their impact (Merger, 2015). It is because the country has the richest ethnic diversity in the globe. The United States has most if not all of the worlds’ ethnic groupings represented in it (Merger, 2015). The major ethnic groupings in the country are white Americans, Native American and Alaska Native, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and “some other race” (Merger, 2015). “Some other race” is used in the census but is not official.
Firstly, the symbolic interaction theory is a theory that relies on the symbolic meaning that individuals rely upon the process of social interaction (Merger, 2015). This theory proposes that that people act based on their beliefs rather than on what is objectively true. The theory analyzes society based on the subjective meanings that people impose on objects or events. For instance, all the ethnic groups in the United States have attached a lot of importance to the countries national flag (Merger, 2015). It has a sentimental value and people attach national values such as liberty to it. It is not unusual to find individuals that are willing to go to extreme lengths to honor the American national flag despite the fact that doing so would mean crossing the moral line. An example of an event that has had a meaning imposed on it is the fourth of July. It is a day of celebration marking the declaration of independence by the American people from the British (Merger, 2015). This day is associated with firework displays and making merry. It reminds the American people that they all fought for independence despite their ethnic differences and thus is a symbol that unites them (Merger, 2015).
Secondly, the conflict theory comes in handy in understanding the sociological set up the United States. This theory emphasizes the role of power in ensuring social order. Before exploring this theory further, it is important to note that the white American ethnic community is the most dominant in the country. The migration of black American population into the new world (America) was not voluntarily but due to the slave trade. This part of history has remained etched in the minds of the people and more often the black American community feels alienated in certain aspects of the social life (Merger, 2015). The conflict theory is derived from the works of Karl Marx. An Italian activist Antonio Gramsci, who followed in the steps of Karl Marx argued that, the consensus rule was achieved through the ability to the dominant group to achieve the consent to their rule through beliefs, ideas, and norms. In the American society, it is apparent that even though the fewer dominant groups such as the Black Americans and the Asians have maintained some of their culture, mostly they have been assimilated by the dominant white American group (Merger, 2015). Assimilation is a process through which an entire culture transforms in important respects in order to conform to the dominant culture. This is apparent as the minority groups in the United States have continued to acquire the social-cultural patterns of the dominant group. A good example is the acceptance of Christianity by black Americans that was not originally part of their culture.
Thirdly, the functionalist theory is instrumental in understanding American sociological diversity. The theory is derived from the works of Emile Durkheim. It proposes that society’s different social structures are important in maintaining the stability of society. Some social institutions are universal for both the minority and majority ethnic group (Merger, 2015). Some of these institutions are the family, government and school among several others. The interdependence among this institution is important for the success of the American society as a whole. The government provides security from both external and internal threats in America thus keeping the other institutions such as the family safe (Merger, 2015). The family in return pays tax that is used to run the government. Schools give an education to students who grow up with skills required to get jobs and support their families. This theory has helped realize a new culture as a society develops new expectations that are universally accepted by the American people as being right (Merger, 2015).
The last theory is the feminist theory. This theory explores the status of men and women in society with the aim of the betterment of omens lives. In the minority groups, women were discriminated in society, and they were looked down upon and not allowed to make important decisions in matters regarding society (Merger, 2015). However in America today social institutions have come up to ensure gender equality. They aim to empower women and ensure that they receive the same opportunities as their male counterparts. This theory cuts across all the ethnic groups in the country (Merger, 2015). It is safe to say that there has been cultural pluralism where each ethnic group in the country has retained its fundamental values and has incorporated some norms from the other ethnic groups.
In summary, America is an ethnically diverse society. It depicts the characteristics of sociological diversity based on the symbolic interaction theory, the conflict theory, the functionalist theory and the feminist theory. Terms such as assimilation and cultural pluralism can be successfully used in the description of the American Society

REFERENCES

Merger, Martin N. 2015. Race and Ethnic Relations: American and Global Perspectives, 10th ed. Stanford. CT: Cengage Learning.