Supplement Appendix a

1. What are some of the ways groups of people are identified?

There are four ways a group of people can be identified. Race, ethnicity, religion and gender.

Within these four groups there are five characteristics that they all share that make them fall into a minority group. Those five characteristics are: unequal treatment, distinguishing physical or cultural traits, involuntary membership, awareness of subordination, and in-group marriage.

Racial groups which is defined by obvious physical differences. Here in US examples of these groups include Blacks, Native Americans, Japanese American, Chinese American and other Asian people, Hispanic.

Ethnic groups are differentiated from the dominant group on the basis of cultural differences (language, food, habits, attitudes towards the marriage and parenting…) and they are set apart from others because of the national origin or distinctive cultural patterns.

Religious groups are the association with a religion other than the dominant faith of Christianity. A set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of common religious creed, beliefs, doctrines, practices, or rituals. Examples of religious groups are Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Amish, Muslims and Buddhists. Also, cults, demon worship or practice with animal sacrifices are also included.

Gender groups is defined by sex (male or female) and the males are the social majority while the females as relegated to the position of the social minority.

The four ways, racial, ethnic, religion and gender, are the main way how we group people to be identified. But people can also be identified by age, disability status, sexual orientation, physical appearance and any other factors that can be used to identify groups of people.