Definition
A term which nearly always, but not necessarily, refers to a numerical minority within the wider society, who are singled out for unequal treatment and discrimination because they are thought of as belonging to an inferior group. The group are often defined by race, although other criteria such as religion, language or politics can be used to distinguish the minority group (Cashmore & Troyna 1990).
Commentary
Historically, the term ‘ethnic minority’ tended to suggest that the minority or marginalised status of such a group arose from its possession of ethnicity itself, rather than the low value the majority ascribed to that particular ethnicity. In recent years, attempts have been made to acknowledge that ethnicity is a characteristic of all individuals and groups, majorities and minorities alike. The use of the term ‘minority ethnic’ as an alternative has drawn attention to the commonality of ethnicity and stresses that it is the non-inclusion of certain ethnicities which results in minority status. However it remains a code for visible minorities rather than minorities in general (www.antiracisttoolkit.org.uk).
Resources
Cashmore, E. & Troyna, B. (1990) (second edition) Introduction to Race Relations. London, NY & Philadelphia: Falmer Press