The struggle against racism has attracted much attention. Much effort has been put into eliminating this destructive phenomenon. But racial minorities from all over the world continue to experience racial discrimination (Clair and Denis 10). The analysis of sociological theory exploring racism and sociological strategies for combating it helps to understand that sociology plays an important role in reducing the manifestations of racism in communities across the globe.
The development of sociology and modern racism is interrelated (Hund and Lentin 23). The current sociological theory focuses on explaining the nature of racism and the causes of its existence (Andersen and Taylor 281). Sociological concepts relevant to racial problems include ethnocentrism, ethnic group closure, and resource allocation (Giddens and Griffiths 495). Ethnocentrism reflects the suspicion to outsiders while group closure reflects the groupsâ disposition to maintain boundaries separating them from others (Giddens and Griffiths 496). Resource allocation is related to the inequalities in the distribution of material values.
Three sociological theoretical perspectives explore the specifics of racism and the terms related to it, such as discrimination and prejudice. They include functionalist theory, symbolic interaction theory, and conflict theory. Functionalist theory suggests that the harmonic functioning of race and ethnic relations can be provided only by the process of assimilation. This process helps the minority to become absorbed into the dominant society. It happens by giving up much of the initial culture.
Functionalists claim that only assimilation can help to avoid racial and ethnic problems. They also emphasize that racial and cultural pluralism leads to inevitable conflicts. Symbolic interaction theory claims that social interaction between different racial groups is the key to reducing hostility and avoiding racism. The theory suggests that certain conditions should be provided to make such interaction effects. It is necessary to ensure that the contact is sustained and maintained between people with equal status.
Besides, social norms promoting equality should be agreed upon by all participants (Andersen and Taylor 282). Conflict theory is based on the notion that racial conflict is tied to class-based conflict. Such conflict is a fundamental part of social interaction (Andersen and Taylor 282). Conflict theory adherents claim that ethnic and racial conflicts can be lessened or eliminated only if the class inequality is reduced (Andersen and Taylor 282).
The analysis of basic concepts related to racism in sociology helps to reveal the premises to the development of sociological strategies for combating racism. Such strategies include actions aimed at collecting necessary relevant data, using this data in practice in the process of creating appropriate laws, training, and policies, and assessing the results of actions taken to eliminate the racism and analyze their results.
The sociological strategy based on collecting necessary data includes actions aimed at revealing the specifics of social processes leading to the dominance of racism. Employment of such a strategy leads to providing society with relevant statistics. Such statistics demonstrate the nature of racism and the conditions necessary for reducing it. Such actions help to formulate the pattern of development of racism in different communities.
They also contribute to the evolvement of effective methods of shaping certain social conditions in such a way that manifestations of racism are eliminated. Collecting the data about the contexts for racially discriminating practices and the social contexts within which racism strategically raises help sociologists to benefit society with statistics. Such data is necessary for considering efficacious actions towards the elimination of racism (Guerin 65). Therefore, sociological activities related to statistical analysis of all aspects of social behaviors contributing to the development of racism help social workers master their methods for combating racism.
Using the statistical data on practice in the process of creating appropriate laws, training, and policies is another sociological strategy for the fight against racism. Sharing statistical results with those members of society that directly affect the activities related to the elimination of racism is one of the most important duties of sociologists investigating this phenomenon. Informing the society about the results of sociological investigations plays an important role in the development of appropriate laws, policies, and training for social workers.
Cooperation of sociologists from different countries and the exchange of statistical data and corresponding analysis make an essential part of creating broad multicultural strategies and policies (Berman and Paradies 222). Such policies should be based on the evidence collected by sociologists from all over the world.
Assessing the results of actions taken to eliminate the racism by different authorities and providing statistical analysis of these results are another important sociological strategy for combating racism. Such activities are necessary for providing society with knowledge about the effectiveness of current actions and directions for future improvements. Such directions and improvements are necessary for ensuring the efficacy of the struggle against racism.
Sociological strategies should be employed to end racism. Sociology can provide the society with appropriate data on the nature of racism, its causes, and the efficacy of possible solutions. Collecting statistical data, using it to improve current policies and make them function better, and carefully assessing of gained results of such actions can be considered effective methods of combating racism used in sociology. Providing appropriate sociological activities aimed at the effective analysis of certain statistics is the key to achieving good results in eliminating racism.
Works Cited
Andersen, Margaret, and Howard Taylor. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. 4th ed. 2008. Belmont, California: Thomson Wadsworth. Print.
Berman, Gabrielle, and Yin Paradies. âRacism, Disadvantage and Multiculturalism: Towards Effective Anti-Racist Praxis.â Ethnic and Racial Studies 33.2 (2010): 214-232. Print.
Clair, Matthew, and Jeffrey Denis. Sociology of Racism. 2015. Web.
Giddens, Anthony, and Simon Griffiths. Sociology. 5th ed. 2006. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Polity. Print.
Guerin, Bernard. âCombating Everyday Racial Discrimination without Assuming Racists or Racism: New Intervention Ideas from a Contextual Analysis.â Behavior and Social Issues 14.1 (2005): 46-70. Print.
Hund, Wulf, and Alana Lentin. Racism and Sociology, Munster, Germany: Lit Verlag, 2014. Print.