A minority or subordinate group is a sociological group that does not constitute a politically dominant plurality of the total population of a given society. A sociological minority is not necessarily a numerical minority — it may include any group that is disadvantaged with respect to a dominant group in terms of social status, education, employment, wealth and political power. To avoid confusion, some writers prefer the terms "subordinate group" and "dominant group" rather than "minority" and "majority".

In socioeconomics, the term "minority" typically refers to a socially subordinate ethnic group (understood in terms of language, nationality, religion and/or culture). Other minority groups include people with disabilities, "economic minorities" (working poor or unemployed), "age minorities" (who are younger or older than a typical working age) and sexual minorities (whose sexual orientation or gender identity differs from the sociological norm).

The term "minority group" often occurs alongside a discourse of civil rights and collective rights which gained prominence in the 20th century. Members of minority groups are subject to differential treatment in the society in which they live. This discrimination may be directly based on an individual's perceived membership of a minority group, without consideration of that individual's personal achievement. It may also occur indirectly, due to social structures that are not equally accessible to all. Activists campaigning on a range of issues may use the language of minority rights, including student rights, consumer rights and animal rights. In recent years, some members of social groups traditionally perceived as dominant have begun to present themselves as an oppressed minority, such as white, middle-class heterosexual males.See, for example: Gates, David. White Male Paranoia: Say It Loud. They’re White and They’re Cowed. But Are They Victims of Multiculturalism, or Are They Just Bad Sports? Newsweek, 29 March 1993: 48-53.
See also: the 1993 film Falling Down.
Ferber, Abby L. (2000). Racial Warriors and Weekend Warriors: The Construction of Masculinity in Mythopoetic and White Supremacist Discourse. Men and Masculinities, Vol. 3, No. 1, 30-56 (2000)

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NPR Topics: Politics & Society

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Sat, 10 May 2008 10:38:00 -0400
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Sat, 10 May 2008 10:37:00 -0400
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Week in Review: Obama Surges Forward
Sat, 10 May 2008 10:26:00 -0400
This week presidential hopeful Barack Obama made significant progress in his bid to be the Democratic nominee. Also this week, President Bush promised to veto a farm bill and a housing aid bill.

The Talk of the Town

Word Feast
Lauren Collins Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 -0000
When Christopher Russell, a captain at Gramercy Tavern for many years, went to work at Union Square Café, where he is now the general manager, he decided to import a few traditions. (Both restaurants are owned by Danny Meyer.) He banished wordy descriptions from the wine list and switched from . . .
The Open Secret of Success
James Surowiecki Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 -0000
In the current atmosphere of economic tumult, the announcement that Toyota sold a hundred and sixty thousand more cars than General Motors in the first three months of this year might seem like a minor news item. But it may very well signal the end of one of the most . . .
No Endgame
Elizabeth Kolbert Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Presidential-primary races tend to proceed along self-reflexive lines. The candidate who is ahead--or who is perceived to be--receives more press coverage. He collects more contributions and endorsements, and these generate still more media attention, which brings in more money, more votes, and so on. Meanwhile, his . . .

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