Minority group

A minority group is a social category with complex meanings. In common usage, it refers to a group with the lowest number of people. This usually means they make up less than half of a population. However, in sociology and politics, the term describes power structures. A group is considered a minority if they are disempowered compared to a dominant group. This means they may lack social, economic, or political control. Therefore, a group can be very large numerically but still be a minority.

Academics often use the term to describe relative disadvantage. This happens when a dominant social group holds most of the influence. For example, during Apartheid in South Africa, white Europeans held almost all power. Black Africans were the minority group in this system. This was true even though they vastly outnumbered white Europeans. To avoid confusion, scholar Harris Mylonas proposed the term "non-core group." He uses this for groups seen as unassimilated by the ruling elite. He reserves "minority" for groups that have specific legal minority rights.

Membership in these groups is often based on observable characteristics. These can include ethnicity, race, or religion. Other categories include sexual orientation and disability. A person might belong to several groups at the same time. This concept is known as intersectionality. For instance, someone could be both a racial and religious minority. Conversely, a person might be part of a minority in one way but part of a dominant group in another. This complexity shows that identity is not always one-dimensional.

Sociologist Louis Wirth defined these groups through the lens of treatment. He said they are singled out for unequal treatment due to physical or cultural traits. These people often see themselves as objects of collective discrimination. Scholar Joe Feagin identified five specific characteristics of a minority group. They experience discrimination and subordination. They possess traits that the dominant group disapproves of. They share a sense of collective identity and common burdens. They follow socially shared rules about membership. Finally, they often show a tendency to marry within the group.

Historically, the definition of "minority" has shifted significantly. In the 19th century, the term mostly referred to political parties. It included well-off people who feared losing influence to new voters. It also included less popular parties in two-party contests. This changed after the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 and 1920. The conference applied the term to ethnic, national, and religious groups. It defined them as people differing in race or language from the majority. The League of Nations Minorities Commission later used this framework. Protecting these groups was seen as a way to prevent future wars.

Minority groups often face discrimination in many areas of life. This can affect housing, employment, healthcare, and education. Discrimination can come from individuals or through structural inequalities. Structural inequality means that rights and opportunities are not equally accessible. People fighting for minority rights pursue laws to protect these groups. They want to ensure equal social status and legal protections. In the United States, non-Hispanic Whites make up 58.4% of the population. All other racial and ethnic groups are classified as minorities there.

There are different types of minorities, such as racial and national groups. Racial minorities are often called people of color. Modern racism grew from classifications during the Age of Exploration. Some countries use different systems to categorize people. The United Kingdom often categorizes by ethnicity rather than race. Ethnicity includes shared culture, religion, traditions, and language. National minorities are groups with close links to a specific territory. Some minorities are involuntary, meaning they were brought into a society against their will. Others are voluntary, such as immigrants moving to a new country.