Read Kanter's Numbers Essay
Read Kanter's Numbers: Minorities and Majorities. Answer the following questions in one paragraph each. Be prepared to submit your answers to the faculty member during Unit One.
a. Building upon Georg Simmel, Kanter discusses the significance of numbers for one's perceptions of others within the group. List and explain the different types of groups she discusses. How do the dynamics of each group differ?
Kanter identifies four distinct types of groups. A Uniform group is completely homogeneous in respect to sex,race and ethnicity. It is comprised of only one kind of person, one significant social type. Those in which there is a large preponderance of one type over another (ex-85 of one type to 15 of another type) would be described as Skewed group. In a skewed group- Dominants are the culture creators and Tokens are reps of their type rather …show more content…
Assimilation results in the Token’s role encapsulation. The Tokens responded by either becoming over achievers and crafting a careful public performance that minimized organizational and peer concerns (Usually the choice of already exceptional performers with advanced, technical skills and with experienced social savvy)- or by using the notoriety to their advantage- trading on their Token status, relying heavily on alliances with the powerful. The latter strategy is dangerous as power shifts, and new Tokens threaten their status. This adaptation tends to make a large representation by the Tokens’ type much more difficult as a result. Kanter notes that still others found a way to become socially invisible (typical of women in the pre-Feminist era) - to minimize differences, avoid group scenarios wherever possible, keep a low profile, allowing individual contributions to be co-opted by the Dominant, taking the support positions and/or leading anonymously from
a. Building upon Georg Simmel, Kanter discusses the significance of numbers for one's perceptions of others within the group. List and explain the different types of groups she discusses. How do the dynamics of each group differ?
Kanter identifies four distinct types of groups. A Uniform group is completely homogeneous in respect to sex,race and ethnicity. It is comprised of only one kind of person, one significant social type. Those in which there is a large preponderance of one type over another (ex-85 of one type to 15 of another type) would be described as Skewed group. In a skewed group- Dominants are the culture creators and Tokens are reps of their type rather …show more content…
Assimilation results in the Token’s role encapsulation. The Tokens responded by either becoming over achievers and crafting a careful public performance that minimized organizational and peer concerns (Usually the choice of already exceptional performers with advanced, technical skills and with experienced social savvy)- or by using the notoriety to their advantage- trading on their Token status, relying heavily on alliances with the powerful. The latter strategy is dangerous as power shifts, and new Tokens threaten their status. This adaptation tends to make a large representation by the Tokens’ type much more difficult as a result. Kanter notes that still others found a way to become socially invisible (typical of women in the pre-Feminist era) - to minimize differences, avoid group scenarios wherever possible, keep a low profile, allowing individual contributions to be co-opted by the Dominant, taking the support positions and/or leading anonymously from