Sociology / Unit 7 Soc 1046 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Majority and Minority Groups
Captions available
The idea
A minority, or subordinate, group is defined by lack of power relative to a majority, or dominant, group — not by size.
In practice
Under apartheid, the numerically larger Black population held less power than the smaller White population, the dominant group.
Where people slip
Reading "minority" as a headcount is the standing error students make, missing cases like apartheid, where the majority was subordinate.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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