There are four ways a group of people can be identified are race, ethnicity, religion and gender. Within these four groups there are five characteristics that they all share that make them fall into a minority group. Those five characteristics are unequal treatment, distinguishing physical or cultural traits, involuntary membership, awareness of subordination, and in-group marriage.
The racial group is a group of individuals that are set apart because of obvious physical differences. Here in the United States examples of these groups include Blacks, Native Americans, Arab American, Japanese Americans, Chinese Americans and other Asian people.
The ethnic group is a group of individual that are set apart because of origin and cultural. Cultural traits that originate from their homelands or from being prohibited from becoming part of society are what make this group distinctive. Race is not determined in the ethnic group, since it includes “white” individuals such as Irish Americans, Polish American and Norwegians Americans. It also includes Hispanics or Latinos who could be consider as either Black or White.
The religious groups are individuals that worship faiths other than the more dominant faith of Christianity. Most people of the dominate group often misunderstand and stigmatize other religions. The Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Amish, Muslims and Buddhists are examples of the religious groups. Also, cults, demon worship or practice with animal sacrifices are also included.
Because males are the social majority, females are considered the minority. Therefore; gender is another way to identified people. Females of other groups, such as racial, ethnic and religion, have it especially hard since they are the minority within a minority.
The four ways, racial, ethnic, religion and gender, are how way we group people to be