We don't experience our everyday lives through just one lens; rather, we experience all elements of our identity-race,
class, gender, sexuality-simultaneously. Identities and Inequalities acknowledges this complex reality and brings
to light the importance of studying the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality. It also examines these
intersections as both elements of personal identity and sources of social inequality. Newman has written a unique,
engaging, and highly accessible book that will prepare students to study these all-important issues in a whole
new way.
Table of Contents
Preface XIII
Acknowledgments XXI
Part 1 Identities 3
Chapter 1 Differences and Similarities 3
Similarities and Differences in Everyday Life: Drawing Lines 8
"Classified" Information: Forming Impressions 12
Variation Between Groups, Variation Within Groups 15
The Power of "Normality": All Differences Are Not Created Equal 17
Stratification, Power, and Privilege 21
Theories of Inequality 22
Structural-Functionalism 22
Conflict Theories 24
Cultural Capital 28
Conclusion 29
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
Identity inheritance: Climbing up (or down) your family tree 30
Chapter 2 Manufacturing Difference: The Social Construction of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality 32
Perspectives on Identity 35
Essentialism 37
Constructionism 39
Definitions of Differences and Identities 42
Racial/Ethnic Identities 43
The Social Construction of Race and Ethnicity 44
Multiracial Identities 49
Class Identities 52
How Do Americans Determine Class Standing? 53
Who Is Poor? 55
Gender Identities 57
Gender Roles: Doing Gender 59
The Sexual Dichotomy 60
Intersexuals and Biological Ambiguity 63
Sexual Orientations 64
Heteronormativity 65
"The Closet" 66
The Complexity of Sexual Identity 68
Identities on the Borderlands 70
Intersections: Gay Black Men on the Down Low 72
Conclusion 74
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
A sociological treasure hunt: The artifacts of identity 74
Chapter 3 Portraying Difference: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in Language and the Media 76
Symbols and Language 78
Slurs 80
The Language of Difference 83
Gendered Language 83
Ethnoracial Language 85
Sexual Language 86
The Use of Language to Conceal Variation 87
The Differences of Language 89
The Battle over "Political Correctness" 92
Media Representations of Difference 95
Gender in the Media 96
Children's Exposure to Gender in the Media 96
Media-Reinforced Femininity 98
Media-Reinforced Masculinity 101
Race and Ethnicity in the Media 102
Sexuality in the Media 105
Social Class in the Media 108
Conclusion 111
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
But I play one on TV: Media portraits of race, gender, and sexuality 112
Chapter 4 Learning Difference: Families, Schools, and Socialization 114
Identity Socialization in Families 116
Learning Genders 117
Biological Predispositions 117
Gender Training 119
Intersections: The Influence of Race on Gender Socialization 122
Gender Neutrality 123
Learning Racial Identities 126
Intersections: The Effects of Gender and Class on Racial Identities 129
Learning Sexualities 131
Was I Just Born This Way? 132
Intersections: The Effect of Gender on Learning Sexualities 134
Bisexualities 135
Learning Social Classes 136
Intersections: Class, Race, and Motherwork 139
Identity Socialization in Schools 141
Peer Influence 141
Gendered Lessons 143
Segregating the Sexes 144
Intersections: Gender, Race, and Bullying 145
Coaching Masculinities 147
Class and Race Lessons 149
Conclusion 153
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
Go to your room: Race, gender, and childhood discipline 154
Part 2 Inequalities 157
Chapter 5 Expressing Inequalities: Prejudice and Discrimination in Everyday Life 158
Stereotypes: The Building Blocks of Bigotry 161
The Normality of Stereotypes 162
The Negativity of Positive Stereotypes 163
A "Model" Minority 163
The Lady and the Naturally Good Mother 165
Intersections: The Strong Black Woman 167
Prejudice: Perceiving Inequality 168
The Politics of Prejudice: Obama Effect or Obama Backlash? 170
Gender and Sexual Prejudice 172
Prejudice, Privilege, and Ideologies of Inferiority 173
Race and Biological Weakness 175
Gender and Biological Inevitability 176
The Hidden Privilege of Social Dominance 178
Intersections: Wealthy White Men and Perceptions of Race 182
Within-Group Prejudice 183
Discrimination: Inequality in Action 188
Personal Discrimination 188
Quiet Bias 189
The Enduring Importance of Race 192
Intersections: Race, Class, Gender, and Everyday Social Encounters 195
Global Ethnic Violence 196
Institutional Discrimination 197
Conclusion 201
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
Race and retail: Personal and institutional discrimination in everyday life 203
Chapter 6 Inequalities in Economics and Work 206
Underprivilege and Overprivilege: Economic Imbalances in Everyday Life 208
Global Inequalities 209
U.S. Inequalities 209
The Middle-Class Squeeze 213
The Face of American Poverty: In the Shadow of Plenty 216
Sleepless on the Street 217
Poverty's Border 218
The Economies of Race and Ethnicity 220
Intersections: Race, Class, and Immigration 223
The Economies of Gender 225
Intersections: Race, Gender, and the Poverty of Single Parenthood 227
On the Job: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the Workplace 230
Professional Training 231
The Corporate Closet 232
Racial Discrimination in the Workplace 234
Affirmative Action: Overcoming Institutional Discrimination 236
Gender and Work 239
Separate Spheres 240
Gender Discrimination in the Workplace 243
Intersections: Gendered Racism in the Workplace 246
Conclusion 247
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
Living on the outskirts of poverty: A balanced budget 249
Chapter 7 Inequalities in Law and Justice 251
The Social Construction of Laws 253
Power, Politics, and Legal Definitions 254
The Laws of Intimacy 255
Miscegenation 256
Same-Sex Marriage 259
Race, Class, and Justice 263
Racial Profiling 264
Class and Crime 267
Prisons 269
Race, Class, and Death 274
Gendered Justice 277
Gender and the Law 277
Sexual Harassment 279
Gender and Violence 281
Intersections: Poverty, Gender, and Human Trafficking 282
Intimate Violence 284
Rape and Sexual Assault 284
Intimate Partner Violence 288
Conclusion 293
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
Safe havens: Race, class, and the fear of crime 294
Chapter 8 Inequalities in Health and Illness 296
The Social Construction of Health and Illness 299
The Embodiment of Inequality 302
To Eat or Not to Eat 303
Hunger 304
Obesity 305
Intersections: Race, Class, Gender, and Weight 310
It's Not How You Feel, It's How You Look 311
Unequal and Unwell: The Stratification of Health and Health Care 314
Global Inequalities 314
Wealth and Health in the United States 319
Intersections: Race, Class, and Social Vulnerability: The (Un)Natural Disaster of Hurricane Katrina 321
The Color of Health 323
Environmental Discrimination 325
Health Care Suspicions 327
Gendered Health 328
Premenstrual Syndrome 330
The Medicalization of Childbirth 332
The Gendering of Medical Practice and Research 334
Men's Health 335
Homosexuality and Health 337
Conclusion 339
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
Hospital stays: The unequal contours of American health care 340
Chapter 9 The Futures of Inequality 342
Possibilities: Altering Inequalities 344
Fickle Futures 348
Ethnoracial Outlooks 349
Evolving a Post-Racial, Post-Ethnic Society 351
Intersections: Discrimination in the Absence of Difference: Japan's Burakumin 354
Subdividing Race and Ethnicity 355
The Futures of Gender and the Sexual Dichotomy 358
The Futures of "[Blank]sexuality" 362
Stratification Outlooks: Class Dismissed? 363
Future Intersections 364
Final Thoughts 366
Investigating Identities and Inequalities
Organizing for a change: Student groups on campus 368
References 370
Credits 420
Glossary/Index 421
