Question

A minority is defined as a category of people who

a. have physical traits that make them different
b. are less than half the society's population
c. are defined as both different and disadvantaged
d. are below average in terms of income

Answer 1

A minority group is defined as any group of people who are singled out from the others in society for differential and unequal treatment based on their physical or cultural characteristics. Characteristics of a minority group include unequal treatment, distinguishing traits, involuntary membership, awareness of subordination, and high rates of in-group marriage.

Step-by-step explanation:

A minority group is defined as any 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.

According to sociologists Charles Wagley and Marvin Harris, a minority group is distinguished by five characteristics: unequal treatment and less power over their lives, distinguishing physical or cultural traits, involuntary membership in the group, awareness of subordination, and a high rate of in-group marriage.

Additionally, being a numerical minority is not a characteristic of being a minority group; sometimes larger groups can be considered minority groups due to their lack of power. It is the lack of power that is the predominant characteristic of a minority or subordinate group.

Answer 2

A minority is a category of people who experience less power and unequal treatment in society due to their distinctive physical or cultural traits, and who recognize themselves as facing collective discrimination, regardless of their numerical representation in the population.

Step-by-step explanation:

A minority is defined by sociologists as a category of people who are singled out due to their physical or cultural characteristics for unequal treatment, and who see themselves as discriminated against collectively. This notion aligns with what Sociologist Louis Wirth expressed in 1945 and is reinforced by the work of Charles Wagley and Marvin Harris in 1958. Those in a minority group generally experience less power over their lives, have distinguishing traits which may include but are not limited to skin color or language, often have involuntary membership in the group, harbor an awareness of their subordination, and usually maintain a high rate of in-group marriage.

Note that being less than half of a society's population does not inherently define a group as a minority; rather, it's the lack of power in comparison to the dominant group that is paramount. Instances like apartheid in South Africa illustrate how numerical majority does not equate to power. Hence, the essence of a minority group is not their numbers but their reduced ability to control their lives in the context of the larger society.