Chapter+11Race+and+Ethnicity

Race - A socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important. Ethnicity - A shared cultural heritage. Stereotype - A simplified description applied to every person in some category. Assimilation - The process by which minorities gradually adopt patterns of the dominant culture. Minority- Any category of people distinguished by physical or cultural difference that a society sets apart and subordinates. Prejudice- A rigid and unfair generalization about an entire category of people Scapegoat- A person or category of people, typically with little power, whom other people unfairly blame for their own troubles Discrimination- Unequal treatment of varioius categories of people.
 * The most common race in Modern Family is caucasian. They are all of white skin. The American society considers this important, in part, because that's what our nation was founded on.
 * The ethnicity of Gloria is one with Spanish influence. Her mannerisms and actions represent the culture of the Spanish. She is very expressive.
 * The stereotype for pretty girls is that they are not intelligent. This is shown in the case of Haley, Claire and Phil's daughter. She is a very attractive, young 18 year old, but she does not excel in school and her "blondeness" shows in several episodes.
 * Assimilation can be seen in Gloria's case. She would be considered the minority in the United states. She has gradually adopted the cultural patterns of women in the United States: shopping, nails, hair, and going to gym classes.
 * Gloria is part of the minority because she is Colombian. She is looked and differently and she is treated differently.
 * Claire and Phil always seem to judge their neighbors even before they have met them. They judged the man that lived next door to them thinking he was a grumpy old man, but after visiting with him, they found out he was actually very nice.
 * Luke is a good example of this. Luke always gets blamed for things by his older sisters Alex and Haley. He never seems to realize that they are getting him in trouble and he continues to take the blame.
 * When Phil goes to a college visit with Haley, he gets treated as a nerd and uncool because of his age.