Social Construction of “race”
Social Construction of “race”
Difference between race (biological) and ethnicity (cultural) – While the term �race’ emphasizes biological differences based on skin colour, ethnicity denotes the sense of belonging to a particular community whose members share common cultural traditions. Ethnicity isnt just a question of affiliation; its also a question of choice. Its also a question of group membership. And its usually associated with a geographic region.
A race is a “local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.”
The most powerful argument about the differentiation between race and ethnicity is that race becomes institutionalized in a way that has profound social consequences on the members of different groups.
Race is primarily unitary.
You can only have one race, but you are able to claim multiple ethnic affiliations.
You have no control over your race; its how youre perceived by others. E.g Chinese growing up Australian could claim to be ethnically Australian however her race is still Chinese.
Social construction – A social construction or social construct is any phenomenon “invented” or “constructed” by participants in a particular culture or society, existing because people agree to behave as if it exists or follow certain conventional rules. One example of a social construct is social status.
Research studies have