What makes a minority?

[DarkProphet]

A few people might argue that no minority status should exist for anyone and such distinctions create inherent divisions, others are just white supremacists. Most however seem to feel that minorities should be protected in some ways. Two questions though, what constitutes a minority and what protections should be extended to minorities?

 

[morningstar2651]

It isn't numbers.

Women are considered a minority in our culture, but we have more women than men.

 

[billwald]

Political pressure "makes a minority." In Snohomish County, WA, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean people are, by ordinance, NOT minority citizens because they mind their own business and don't have political pull.

 

[corvus_corax]

A few people might argue that no minority status should exist for anyone and such distinctions create inherent divisions, others are just white supremacists. Most however seem to feel that minorities should be protected in some ways. Two questions though, what constitutes a minority and what protects should be extended to minorities?

I've always perceived "minorities" as those adults (as a group) who lack power/authority/etc, but not necessarily numbers.
IIRC, in South Africa, native africans (negroes) outnumber Caucasians, but were (and perhaps still are, Im not sure) a minority for quite a while.
Just my off-the-top-of-my-head thought, not necessarily fact, that's all.
ETA- note what Morningstar said about women, and my point becomes more clear.

 

[Autumnleaf]

A reason to complain is all that is necessary for a "minority".

 

[morningstar2651]

A reason to complain is all that is necessary for a "minority".

Does that make republicans a minority because Obama won the election?

I heard a lot of complaints from republicans.

 

[OphidiaPhile]

A reason to complain is all that is necessary for a "minority".

So Christians are a minority I guess.

 

[Nihilismus]

A reason to complain is all that is necessary for a "minority".

Thanks, Whitey McWhite.

 

[WhatThe]

Perhaps it can be defined not by the numbers of the group, but by how many members of the group are in positions of power?