Sociology 1027A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Dear Abby, Herbert J. Gans, Symbolic Ethnicity
8 Feb 2017
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White americans who are of european descent have a choice in regards to their ethnic identity. They can either be a hyphenated american, or choose to just be a white american. This option is there because of the power that whites hold and the decrease in discrimination based on heritage that has occurred over time. Younger generations often maintain symbolic ethnicities, which is a term that was introduced by herbert gans and refers to the ethnicity that is often individualistic without any real social sacrifice for that individual. It is often rooted in familial traditions and reinforced by the joys that come along with demonstrating that ethnicity. For younger generations of whites, ethnicity does not have a large influence on their daily lives unless they choose for it to be that way, which is often through personal choice. Symbolic ethnicities only apply to white americans of european descent.
