Minority group
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Quick-adding category "Concepts (nationalism studies)" (using [[WP:HOTCAT|HotCat]])
{{redirect|Minority|other uses|Minority (disambiguation)}}
A '''minority''' or '''subordinate group''' is a [[group (sociology)|sociological group]] that does not constitute a politically dominant voting majority of the total population of a given society. A sociological minority is not necessarily a numerical minority — it may include any group that is disadvantaged with respect to a dominant group in terms of [[social status]], [[education]], [[employment]], [[wealth]] and [[political power]]. To avoid confusion, some writers prefer the terms "subordinate group" and "dominant group" rather than "minority" and "majority", respectively.
In [[socioeconomics]], the term "minority" typically refers to a socially subordination [[ethnic group]] (understood in terms of [[language]], [[nationality]], [[religion]] and/or [[culture]]). Other minority groups include [[disability|people with disabilities]], "economic minorities" ([[working poor]] or [[unemployed]]), "age minorities" (who are younger or older than a typical working age) and [[sexual minority|sexual minorities]].
The term "minority group" often occurs alongside a discourse of [[civil rights]] and [[collective rights]] which gained prominence in the 20th century. Members of minority groups are prone to different treatment in the countries and societies in which they live. This [[discrimination]] may be directly based on an individual's perceived membership of a minority group, without consideration of that individual's personal achievement. It may also occur indirectly, due to social structures that are not equally accessible to all. [[Activist]]s campaigning on a range of issues may use the language of [[minority rights]], including [[student rights]], [[consumer rights]] and [[animal rights]]. In recent years, some members of social groups traditionally perceived as dominant have attempted to present themselves as an oppressed minority, such as white, middle-class heterosexual males.<ref>See, for example: Gates, David. ''White Male Paranoia: Say It Loud. They’re White and They’re Cowed. But Are They Victims of Multiculturalism, or Are They Just Bad Sports?'' [[Newsweek]], 29 March 1993: 48-53. <br>See also: the 1993 film [[Falling Down]].<br>Ferber, Abby L. (2000). ''Racial Warriors and Weekend Warriors: The Construction of Masculinity in Mythopoetic and White Supremacist Discourse''. Men and Masculinities, Vol. 3, No. 1, 30-56 (2000)</ref>
Studies have consistently shown a correlation between negative attitudes or [[prejudice]] toward minorities and [[social conservatism]] (as well as the converse, positive attitutes and [[social progressivism]]).<ref>Peck, S. L. (2003, April). ''Prejudice and politics.'' Paper presented at the Meeting of the Southern Sociological Society.<br>Stone, B. L. (2000). ''Robert Nisbet on conservative dogmatics.'' Society, 37, 68 – 74.<br>Meertens, R. W., & Pettigrew, T. F. (1997). ''Is subtle prejudice really prejudice?'' Public Opinion Quarterly, 61, 54 – 71.<br>Leiber, M. J., Woodrick, A. C., & Roudebush, E. M. (1995). ''Religion, discriminatory attitudes and the orientations of juvenile justice personnel: A research note.'' Criminology, 33, 431 – 449.<br>Estrada, A. X., & Weiss, D. J. (1999). ''Attitudes of military personnel toward homosexuals.'' Journal of Homosexuality,37, 83 – 97.</ref>
==Sociology of minority groups==
Sociologist [[Louis Wirth]] defined a minority group as "a group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the [[society]] in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination."<ref>Wirth, L: "The Problem of Minority Groups.", page 347 in Ralph Linton (ed.), ''The Science of Man in the World Crisis''. New York:Columbia University Press, 1945. The political scientist and law professor, Gad Barzilai, has offered a theoretical definition of non-ruling communities that conceptualizes groups that don't rule and are excluded from resources of political power. Barzilai, G. ''Communities and Law: Politics and Cultures of Legal Identities.''. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.</ref> This definition includes both objective and subjective criteria: membership of a minority group is objectively [[ascribed status|ascribed]] by society, based on an individual's physical or behavioral characteristics; it is also subjectively applied by its members, who may use their status as the basis of group identity or [[social solidarity|solidarity]]. In any case, minority group status is categorical in nature: an individual who exhibits the physical or behavioral characteristics of a given minority group will be accorded the status of that group and be subject to the same treatment as other members of that group.
===Racial or ethnic minorities===<!-- This section is linked from [[Abkhazia]] -->
Every large society contains ethnic minorities. They may be [[Human migration|migrant]], [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]] or landless [[nomad]]ic communities. In some places, subordinate ethnic groups may constitute a numerical majority, such as Blacks in South Africa under [[apartheid]]. International criminal law can protect the rights of racial or ethnic minorities in a number of ways.<ref>[[Lyal Sunga|Lyal S. Sunga]] (2004). ''International Criminal Law: Protection of Minority Rights, Beyond a One-Dimensional State: An Emerging Right to Autonomy?'' ed. Zelim Skurbaty. (2004) 255-275.</ref> The right to [[self-determination]] is a key issue.
===Religious minorities===
Persons belonging to [[religious minorities]] have a faith which is different to that held by the majority. Most countries of the world have religious minorities. It is now widely accepted in the west that people should have the freedom to choose their own religion, including not having any religion ([[atheism]] or [[agnosticism]]), and including the right to convert from one religion to another. However in many countries this freedom is constricted. For example in [[Egypt]], a new system of identity cards<ref>See "The Situation of the Bahá'í Community of Egypt" http://www.bahai.org/persecution/egypt/update and "Religion Today: Bahais' struggle for recognition reveals a less tolerant face of Egypt" http://dwb.sacbee.com/24hour/religion/story/3315375p-12212722c.html</ref> requires all citizens to state their religion - and the only choices are [[Islam]], [[Christianity]] or [[Judaism]] (See [[Egyptian identification card controversy]]).
A 2006 study suggests that [[Atheism|atheists]] constitute a religious minority in the United States, with researchers concluding: "Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in 'sharing their vision of American society.' Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry."<ref>[http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/ath1.htm The ultimate outsiders?] Reported on website www.atheists.org, March 25, 2006.</ref>
===Gender and sexual minorities===
While in most societies, numbers of men and women are roughly equal, the status of women as a "subordinate" group has led some to equate them with minorities.<ref>Hacker, Helen Mayer. 1951. ''Women as a minority group.'' Social Forces, 30, 1951, pp.60-69. [http://www2.pfeiffer.edu/~lridener/courses/womminor.html Article online]</ref> In addition, various [[gender variance|gender variant]] people can be seen as constituting a minority group or groups, such as [[intersex]]uals, [[transsexuality|transsexuals]], and gender nonconformists — especially when such phenomena are understood as intrinsic characteristics of an identifiable group.
An understanding of [[lesbian]], [[gay]], [[bisexuality|bisexual]] and [[transgender]] people as a minority group or groups has gained prominence in the Western world since the 19th century. The acronym [[LGBT]] is currently used to group these identities together. The phrase [[sexual minority|sexual minorities]] can also be used to refer to these groups, and in addition may include [[sexual fetishism|fetishists]], practitioners of [[BDSM]], [[polyamory|polyamorists]] and people who [[Age disparity in sexual relationships|prefer sex partners of a disparate age]]. The term [[queer]] is sometimes understood as an umbrella term for all [[normativity|non-normative]] sexualities and gender expressions, but does not always seek to be understood as a minority; rather, as with many [[Gay Liberation]]ists of the 1960s and '70s, it sometimes represents an attempt to uncover and embrace the sexual diversity in everyone.
===Age minorities===
The elderly, while traditionally influential or even (in a [[gerontocracy]]) dominant in the past, have in the modern age usually been reduced to the minority role of economically 'non-active' groups. Children can also be understood as a minority group in these terms, and the discrimination faced by the young is known as [[adultism]]. Discrimination against the elderly is known as [[ageism]].
Various local and [[International human rights instruments|international statutes]] are in place to mitigate the exploitation of children, such as the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]], as well as a number of organizations that make up the [[children's rights movement]]. The [[youth rights]] movement campaigns for social empowerment for young people, and against the legal and social restrictions placed on [[Minor (law)|legal minors]]. Groups that advocate the interests of [[senior citizen]]s range from the charitable ([[Help the Aged]]) to grass-roots activism ([[Gray Panthers]]), and often overlap with disability rights issues.
===Disabled minorities===
The [[Disability rights movement]] has contributed to an understanding of disabled people as a minority or a coalition of minorities who are disadvantaged by society, not just as people who are disadvantaged by their impairments. Advocates of disability rights emphasise difference in physical or psychological functioning, rather than inferiority — for example, some people with [[autism]] argue for acceptance of [[neurodiversity]], much as opponents of [[racism]] argue for acceptance of ethnic diversity. The [[deaf community]] is often regarded as a linguistic and cultural minority rather than a disabled group, and many [[deaf]] people do not see themselves as disabled at all. Rather, they are disadvantaged by technologies and social institutions that are designed to cater for the dominant group.
==Minorities in law and government==
In the [[politics]] of some [[country|countries]], a '''minority''' is an [[ethnic group]] that is recognized as such by respective laws of its country and therefore has some rights that other groups lack. Speakers of a legally-recognized [[minority language]], for instance, might have the right to education or communication with the government in their mother tongue. Countries that have special provisions for minorities include [[China]], [[Canada]], [[Germany]], [[India]], [[Romania]], [[Russia]], and the [[United Kingdom]] (which does maintain the concept of a [[United Kingdom|British]] supra-nation, however).
Differing minority groups often are not given identical treatment. Some groups are too small or too indistinct compared to the majority, that they either identify as part of the same nation as the members of the majority, or they identify as a separate nation but are ignored by the majority because of the costs or some other aspect of providing preferences. For example, a member of a particularly small ethnic group might be forced to check "Other" on a checklist of different backgrounds, and consequently might receive fewer privileges than a member of a more defined group.
Many contemporary governments prefer to assume the people they rule all belong to the same nationality rather than separate ones based on ethnicity. The [[United States]] asks for [[race (U.S. Census)|race and ethnicity]] on its official census forms, which thus breaks up and organizes its population into different sub-groups, but primarily on racial origin rather than national one. [[Spain]] does not divide its nationals by ethnic group, although it does maintain an official notion of minority languages.
Some minorities are so relatively large or historically or otherwise important that the system is set up in a way to guarantee them comprehensive protection and political representation. As an example, the former Yugoslav republic of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] recognizes the three main nations, none of which constitute a numerical majority, as [[constitution|constitutive]] [[nation]]s, see [[nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. However, other minorities such as [[Roma people|Roma]] and [[Jews]], are officially labelled as "others" and are excluded from many of these protections - for example they may not be elected to a range of high political positions including the presidency.<ref>[http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/minorities/2._framework_convention_(monitoring)/2._monitoring_mechanism/4._opinions_of_the_advisory_committee/1._country_specific_opinions/1._first_cycle/PDF_1st_OP_BiH.pdf Opinion of the Council of Europe's Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, in particular paragraphs 37-43]</ref>
The issue of establishing minority groups, and determining the extent of privileges they might derive from their status, is controversial. There are some who argue that minorities are owed special recognition and rights, while others feel that minorities are unjustified in demanding special rights, as this amounts to preferential [[discrimination]] and could hamper the ability of the minority to integrate itself into mainstream society - perhaps to the point at which the minority follows a path to [[separatism]] or [[supremacist|supremacism]]. In [[Canada]], some feel that the failure of the dominant [[English language|English]]-speaking majority to integrate [[French Canadians]] has given rise to [[Quebec separatism]].
==Affirmative action==
{{main|affirmative action}}
One particularly controversial issue is [[affirmative action]]. This can be, for example, a government programme to provide immigrant or minority groups with extra teaching in the majority language, so that they are better able to compete for places at university or for jobs. These may be considered necessary because the minority group in question is socially disadvantaged. Another form of affirmative action is quotas, where a percentage of places at university, or in employment in public services, are set aside for minority groups. This is arguably not the most ideal form of [[affirmative action]], as it can be perceived as minorities being granted special privileges that the majority does not enjoy. In its worst form it can lead to so-called positive discrimination - where for example an individual of minority status is given preference for a place at a [[university]] over a more or equally-qualified non-minority person.
==See also==
* [[Dominant minority]]
* [[Ethnic group]]
* [[Ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland]]
* [[Intangible Cultural Heritage]]
* [[List of minority political parties]]
* [[Majority]]
* [[Marginalization]]
* [[Minority religion]]
* [[Minority rights]]
* [[Minority Rights Group International]]
* [[Model minority]]
==External links==
*[http://www.ecmi.de ECMI - European Centre for Minority Issues]
*[http://academic.udayton.edu/race/01race/minor01.htm What is a Minority Group?] definitions from Dayton Law School.
*[http://ambassadors.net/archives/issue19/opinions2.htm From Paris to Cairo: Resistance of the Unacculturated]
*[http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/inscr/mar/ Minorities at Risk project at the University of Maryland]
*[http://www.minelres.lv/index.htm MINELRES - Minority Electronic Resources]
*[http://www.eurac.edu/index European Academy Bozen/Bolzano (EURAC)]
*[http://www.eurominority.eu Eurominority - Stateless and national minorities portal]
*[http://www.minorityrights.org/admin/Download/pdf/SWM2007.pdf State of the World's Minorities 2007], Report by Minority Rights Group International
[[Category:Sociology]]
[[Category:Social groups]]
[[Category:Voting theory]]
[[Category:Minorities|*]]
[[Category:Human rights]]
[[Category:Disability rights]]
[[Category:Women's rights]]
[[Category:Linguistic rights]]
[[Category:Youth rights]]
[[Category:Concepts (nationalism studies)]]
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