Principles of Sociology Final Exam - Race, Racialization in Hong Kong

This assignment delves into the sociological perspectives on race and racialization, examining concepts like functionalism, intersectionality, and conflict theory. It explores how racialization processes impact societal structures, leading to discrimination and inequality. The assignment then focuses on the contemporary Hong Kong society as a case study, analyzing the conflicts between mainland Chinese and Hong Kong residents, the role of civic identity, and the impact of language in perpetuating racialization. The analysis highlights how these factors contribute to the formation of racial identities and discriminatory practices within the community. The student's response demonstrates an understanding of key sociological theories and their application to real-world scenarios.

Running Head: PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY
Principles of Sociology
Name of the Students
Name of the university
Author Note:

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PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociological Perspective on Race
Sociological perspective tries to view race through the lens of conflicts that different
races gets involved into, the aspect of functionalism and the symbolic aspect of
intersectionality. The concept of functionalism might appear problematic as its theoretical
aspect asserts that racial discrimination has contributed behind the existence of different races
as they exist today. The base of this theory lies in the fact that the functional aspect of the
idea of race is hidden in the discrimination that it involves. It cannot be denied that world
history has experienced the discrimination that the subordinate groups had to face in the hand
of those in power. Thus, the ideals of functionalism is fruitful l for those who resides in an
upper position in this hierarchical structure. However, differential aspect of the races, which
at times give rise to discrimination, can prove to be affective in creating a feeling of
connectedness among the ones belonging to a particular racial group in otherwise
discriminatory environment. The environment of discrimination leads to conflict between the
social groups involved. Conflicts between different ethnic groups act as a marker of the
existence of different social groups and races within a particular geographical domain. Such
conflicts involve discrimination of the dominant groups against their subordinate others
leading to internal structure of colonialism. The final theory refers to the theory of
intersection, which indicates at the inseparable aspect of the races. It highlights that in a
societal set up the differential factors are bound to co-exist in order to give a shape to the
existing structure. The elements of such frameworks thereby exists by the virtue of their
inherent conflicts.
Concept of Racialization
In order of define ‘Racialization’, it is imperative to create an understanding on the
basis of the fact that the word ‘racialization’ refers to a process, by which certain groups of

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PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY
‘people are identified by the virtue of their racial difference in that particular cultural domain.
It initiates by attributing racial aspects to the various strands of identity, which connects that
particular group to their sociological context. Such process of racialization does not only
impact the racial identities of the groups involve but moves forward to discriminate against
them on the basis of other sociological factors. In long run, racialization affects the daily
living standard of the racial and ethnic groups on whom the racialization is carried out. It
leads to the dominant community discriminating the subordinate groups on their job
opportunities, prevents them from availing social benefits and services that they deserve by
the virtue of their existence. Racialization therefore is pivoted on hierarchical aspect of
societal structure that enhances and reinforces such discriminatory attributes within the
subjects of the society. As a result of fact the outcomes of racialization is evident the
inequalities and discriminations evident in the contemporary society.
Impact of Racialization in contemporary Hong Kong Society
There are various factors, which contributes towards initiating the process of
racialization in contemporary Hong Kong. First contributing factor, which needs to be
discussed in this respect is the conflict that is present between the people from Chinese
mainland and the people of Hong Kong. The conflict between these two ethnic groups is
primarily because of the time-inflicted differences in their cultures. It also involve the conflict
over the ownership over the colonies. The conflict is primarily because of the differences in
the ideologies of these two conflicting ethnic groups. The sense of collective identity as it is
nurtured by the people of Hong Kong has been struck in opposition to the pan-chinese
ideology of the people from Mainland of China. Such differences in ideologies about identity
act as the contributing factors for the racialization in contemporary Hong Kong.

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PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY
Racialization in Hong Kong can be discussed on the basis of civic identity which is
present in the societal structure of Hong Kong. Such ideals of civic identity runs as an
undercurrent to the global doctrine of Human Rights. Societal scenario of Hong Kong
prioritizes the ethnic and cultural values over international political codes of conduct. In such
a scenario the ideals of civic identity are strongly based on cultural values which allows the
ethnic groups to discriminate against other on their social, cultural and racial identity.
Bloodlines are used as a method of justifying the discrimination, which is regressive in the
contemporary global perspective. Language acts as an important weapon of inflicting
racialization. Proficiency in the Chinese language acts as the basis, which allows certain
groups to discriminate others based on the language they speak. Language is intrinsically
linked with the idea of culture and thus adds on to the factors, which are used by the
dominant groups to discriminate the subordinate ones. The idea of pan Chinese identity is
also fed on by the differences and inefficiency in language.