Minority
Related: subculture - majority - outsider
Definition
In sociology and in voting theory, a minority is a group that is outnumbered by persons who do not belong to it, often people with different nationality, religion, culture or lifestyle from that of the mainstream in the society.
In recent decades the term minority has taken on a newer meaning: a group with lower social status rather than small numerical scale. For instance, while numerically women outnumber men in most societies, in many of them they are a minority, given their claim that they have inferior social rights compared to men.
A majority is a group that outnumbers its non-members, or, in the newer sense of the word, has a higher social status. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority, Feb 2004
Sexual minority cultures' influence on culture at large
Sexual minority cultures frequently and consistently influence the broader culture at large, including straight culture. Slang frequently originations in subcultures, including sexual minority subcultures, which becomes part of the larger vernacular including words associated with descriptions specific to sexual minorities or not. Madonna is one of many artists who have borrowed from sexual minority cultures, including her appropriation of vogueing. Recently, the television series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy depicts straight men being made over by gay ones. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_minority_cultures#Influence_on_culture_at_large [Oct 2004]Outsiders as Innovators
See entry on Tyler Cowen
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