11:25 a.m. - 2003-04-15
Reza, M. & Lianyi, H. (2003). Race and Ethnicity Powerpoint Points.
this is by my frens reza and lianyi, for the cs221 media culture module.
Race and Ethnicity
- Notion of race: the belief that groups are naturally diverse, because of endogenous characteristics which are determining factors in themselves, independently of history or economics
- The taxonomic meaning is relatively recent (18th Century)
- Ethnicity: A subgroup that shares a common ancestry, history or culture
- Race is �natural� while ethnicity is �constructed�
Singapore and Multiracialism
- Inhabits a privileged position in public discourse
- Ethnicity is viewed as a �resource� (social and cultural, and economic due to tourism)
- Singapore's ethnic classificatory system tends to makes the races distinct, 'not to merge and blur ethnic boundaries�. (John Clammer)
Race and Stereotypes
- a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment
- all races produce stereotypes about themselves
- stereotypes aren't always negative assumptions about races or ethnicities
Chinese Privilege
- List adapted from �White Privilege�
- parcel of privileges that Singaporean Chinese have been granted, which allows them certain free passes to certain things in our society that are not easily available to others
- not necessarily the result of overt supremacist attitudes
Chinese Privilege
- Being able to turn on the television and see people of their race widely represented.
- Never being asked to speak on behalf of their entire race.
- Being able to buy "flesh" colored band-aids which closely match their skin.���
- Being able to succeed without being called a credit to their race.
- Being able to have a bad day without wondering what their race had to do with specific negative incidents.
The Chinese
- An array of roles
- Both English-speaking and Hokkien-speaking
- Ranging from yuppies, to Ah Sohs and Ah Peks, to Ah Bengs, from middle class to working class
- Generally associated with the entrepeneurial
Invisibility
- Unlike the other races, the Chinese are not poked fun at because of �Chinese-ness�, or at least, there are several Chinese stereotypes to mock
- The Chinese is taken to be the �normal� Singaporean
