The idea that social class and socioeconomic status are related to race/ethnicity can be demonstrated using several examples. This essay will discuss topics such as; the criminalization of racial and ethnic groups and the discrimination of some ethnic minority groups, such as in the case of housing. We will also discuss how these issues may link closely to socioeconomic status, whilst providing theories such as strain theory, social learning theory and labeling theory to provide examples of how this may impact levels of crime or deviance. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Many writers prefer the term “ethnicity” to “race” because it suggests a less biological concept. Newburn explains the distinction between race and ethnicity as the notion that one is biological (race) while the other is social (ethnicity), so he often uses ethnicity to "describe social groups believed or perceived to be different from other social groups." This can be in terms of language, religion, cultural tradition or on a geographical basis. The idea of race can be seen in the ideas of racial difference and the superiority or inferiority of some racial groups over others, such as the ancient Greeks who viewed non-Greeks as “barbarians” and inferior to those who were Greek. Reports of riots in cities such as Bristol, Brixton and Manchester in the 1980s highlighted the fact that areas with a high concentration of ethnic minority groups were also areas of “disadvantaged social and economic conditions”. It was shown that Afro-Caribbean children in particular were excluded from schools and that unemployment rates were higher among ethnic minority groups than among the population as a whole. Newburn (2017) describes criminalization as “the assignment of criminal status to particular individuals.” It has become a common stereotype in society that young people, those belonging to ethnic groups and particularly black men, are more prone to commit crimes and acts of deviance. In the 1980s the link was created between Afro-Caribbean youth and muggings and since the early 2000s there has also been an association of “gang violence” with blacks. Instead of policing white-collar crimes, we often decide to police crimes commonly associated with poor and minority groups. It is argued that this represents “the racism and classism inherent in elite institutions” and may reflect the idea that those at the bottom of the social stratification system are seen as more likely to commit crimes or acts of deviance. The police only have the power to stop and search “when an officer has 'reasonable grounds to suspect' that evidence of particular crimes will be found”. However, it was found that black people were 30 times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people in England and Wales. This is what is considered “racial profiling,” defined as the police use of generalizations “based on race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin, rather than individual behavior. This leads to the stigmatization of entire groups, which then reinforces racial tensions. Spatial assimilation theory advances the idea that differences in socioeconomic status between different racial and ethnic groups help shape patterns of segregation. For example, people from minority groups may not be able to afford to live in wealthier neighborhoods because they are significantly lacking in income, education, and occupational status compared to whites. Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay argue that“low economic status, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential mobility” are what lead to the disruption of a community's social organization, which in turn leads to differences in crime rates. Place stratification, on the other hand, “emphasizes that a group's residential patterns and integration into society” depends on the group's position in the social hierarchy. In the United States, non-Hispanic whites are considered to be at the top of the social hierarchy, so people who belong to this group may experience negative stereotypes and the effect of these stereotypes. For example, African Americans may be “unable to achieve their location preferences as often” compared to people of a similar socioeconomic background but a different racial or ethnic group. However, there are several theories that explain the reasons why people commit crimes or why certain racial and ethnic groups are more prone to commit crimes. Strain theory focuses specifically on the negative relationships an individual has with others, where they are treated in a way they do not want to be treated, and when relationships prevent an individual from achieving valued goals. This theory also argues that anger and other related emotions, which are often the result of negative relationships, lead to deviance. This could be due to failure to achieve certain goals or other related goals such as money and the desire for respect. A report by the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee (2007) suggested that discrimination within the criminal justice system and social exclusion may be key factors in the over-representation of young black people within it. They go on to explain that “80 percent of Black African and Caribbean communities live in Neighborhood Renewal Fund areas.” All people are encouraged to work for money to purchase basic and luxury goods, yet many are prevented from obtaining this money “through legal channels, such as work.” In post-war Detroit, deindustrialization and the decline of the city were claimed. to have been caused by three factors. The first was “the flight of relatively well-paid, safe, and unionized jobs,” the second was the persistence of discrimination especially in private sector workplaces, and the final factor was racial segregation of housing. Discrimination in the real estate market can be seen especially among Hispanics and Asians, where real estate agents commonly target these particular groups towards certain neighborhoods. As well as giving them unequal access to mortgage credit, which can drive minority groups to poorer or more disadvantaged areas. Living in these deprived areas could lead people to experience “negative social and cultural influences” such as a lack of opportunities, broken families and a lack of trust in the police. This can lead to people trying to get the money they need through illegal activities such as theft, prostitution and drug dealing. This desire to be respected and assert oneself through violence can become widespread among disadvantaged areas. Young men may “attempt to 'achieve masculinity' through crime,” or they may try to “adopt tough behavior” and attack or rob people who show disrespect towards them. Kelly Miller spoke about the Atlanta riot in 1906 and argued that bad race relations and the way the media exaggerated crime in the city were the main reasons for starting the riot, with many claims or rumors of.
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