ABSTRACT
Many social scientists believe that relations between dominant and minority groups can be identified and defined on the basis of power. Eitzen (1980) argues that from this perspective the most crucial aspect of a minority group is that it is dominated by a more powerful group. A second characteristic of a minority group is that it comprises people whose characteristics differ significantly from those of people in the dominant group. These characteristics must be easily visible to the casual observer; they must make a difference. A third characteristic of minority group members is that they are stereotyped (often negatively) and often condemned by the dominant group. These stereotypes provide the dominant group with a rationale for keeping the minority group down and are sometimes accepted by the minority group itself. The final characteristic of minority groups is that they are all singled out for different and unfair treatment. Whether the discrimination is subtle or blatant, the effect is always detrimental to the minority group and frequently detrimental to the dominant group. In sum, the criteria of a minority group from this perspective are relative powerlessness, visible differentiation from the majority, negative stereotyping, and discrimination.
