ABSTRACT
The chapter explores the social construct, associated meanings, identities, and assumptions related to ethnicity and ethnocentrism. The chapter begins by offering basic definitions of ethnic culture, ethnicity, ethnocultural affiliation, ethnocentrism, and ethnocentric monoculturalism. In exploring ethnicity as social construct, the chapter differentiates ethnicity from race, discusses how there are many ethnic groups and identities within a racialized group category, and considers how ethnicity and ethnocultural experiences become racialized. The chapter provides examples of ethnocultural values and practices that differ among people, with examples of different ethnocultural practices and examination of how differences become reflected in prejudicial attitudes. In exploring ethnic identity, the chapter differentiates ethnic identity from ethnocultural affiliation, distinguishes modal practices from individual manifestations of ethnocultural values and norms, and considers processes of acculturation and enculturation. In exploring ethnocentrism, the chapter differentiates ethnocentrism from ethnocentric monoculturalism, and relates the latter to hegemonic cultural dominance, an identified facet of oppression. The chapter includes reflection exercises for readers to explore their assumptions and ideas about different ethnocultural groups, their personal experiences and identity, and their experiences of ethnocultural privilege and/or oppression.
