...How are race and ethnicity socially constructed? Why do you think racial distinctions persist? Socially constructed race and ethnicity seems to be a permanent feature of the United States culture. The racial distinctions persist because groups or population share a set of genetic characteristics and physical features. Race today is a mixture of races due to migration. For example, my race is Mexican, but I feel there is a mix on my race depending where they were born. One the was born and rise in United States, the second one born in Mexico and choose to come to United Stated legally and last the one that decided to come to the United States breaking the law. Despite being the same race, each group have different cultures and values. It also...
Words: 528 - Pages: 3
...When examining the concept of race, it can be said that it is constantly fluctuating because of different factors. Race can be defined as a variable that is shaped by broader societal forces, whether it is political, social or economic forces. It is also important that views on race differ from country to country because of different agendas, whether it be to exert dominance or power over other groups. Race can be considered as a social construction because it is used to maintain hierarchies, as seen through it’s lack of biological support and shifting societal views on race. Race is a social construction because it is constantly changing due to shifting societal views on race. First, it is important to note that a socially constructed concept is an idea that is defined as “a perception of a group, individual or idea that is constructed through cultural or social practice” (Dictionary.com). In other words, society creates an idea of what race is, and how races should be distinguished from one another. Race does not have a consistent definition, and can change based on the society that is being examined. In “Racial Formations”, Omi and Winant discuss the use of race as a social concept and conclude that the definition is not rigid, but is used to maintain domination. Omi and Winant believe that this domination is a result of racial formation”, or the “process in which race operates as a central axis of social relations, which then determine social, economic and political institutions...
Words: 817 - Pages: 4
...Race is the major division of human kind. The classification an individual. Yet we are all human, all from the same species, does that not make us equal? Is the inequality amongst the human race biologically or sociologically constructed? Race has become the fundamental thing, telling you who someone is and where they belong. Race defines you as an individual. Brian Jones stated; “Race is a social fiction imposed by the powerful on those they wish to control.” Jane Elliot, conducted an exercise where she divides her class based upon the color of their eyes and bestows upon one group privileges and on the other group impediments. She is famous for her experiment (Elliot, 1970). Jane is trying to portray to young children how discrimination feels, by classifying students according to eye color and not skin color. She causes major conflict between the students who have been classified in a lower class than what they feel they are. Jane is emphasizing how easily it is to judge someone according to physical appearance and that people fail to see what lies behind the human eye before judging them. Jane shows how superficial and society based race actually is. Jane’s experiment shows how different races became more friendly towards each other, due to the emotional development from this exercise. This exercise increased the motivation of young children to socialize with people who were socially defined as a different race. It also portrays how racial identities are...
Words: 1297 - Pages: 6
...Sociology Of Race And Ethnicity Bottom of Form Race and ethnicity are important concepts in the field of sociology and are ones that are studied a great deal. Race plays a large role in everyday human interactions and sociologists want to study how, why, and what the outcomes are of these interactions. Sociologists look at many questions related to race and ethnicity, including: * What is race? * What is ethnicity? * Why does society treat racial and ethnic groups differently, and why is there social inequality between these groups? * How are these divisions and inequalities able to persist so stubbornly, and how extensive are they? What is the difference between race and ethnicity? Within sociology, the terms race, ethnicity, minority, and dominant group all have very specific and different meanings. To understand the sociological perspective on race and ethnicity, it is important to understand the meanings of these concepts. An ethnic group is a social category of people who share a common culture, such as a common language, a common religion, or common norms, customs, practices, and history. Ethnic groups have a consciousness of their common cultural bond. An ethnic group does not exist simply because of the common national or cultural origins of the group, however. They develop because of their unique historical and social experiences, which become the basis for the group’s ethnic identity. For example, prior to immigration to the United States...
Words: 768 - Pages: 4
...yelling. This conflict leads to Keith deciding that the boys are not a good fit and need to go back to the agency. David on the other hand has bonded with the brothers and insists that they keep them. After having the brothers for awhile David expresses feeling like a single mother who is left to do all of the work by himself because of Keith's lack on interest in them. David makes Keith feel guilty for working all the time and not spending time with the boys and convinces him to attend Durrell's school play. After they attend the play things start to improve for the family and they begin working towards a healthy and happy life together. David and Keith's relationship with Anthony and Durrell defies many social norms and socially constructed ideas...
Words: 787 - Pages: 4
...Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Empowerment: How are gender and race socially constructed? From a social construction point of view, gender and race don’t mean anything. They have meaning because the society defines a meaning for them (Judith, 1998). By social construction, we mean how the society group people and how it gives certain groups an advantage over others. For instance, somebody believes that he is a man only because the society says he is a man, not because he wants to be a man. One has no choice to become what he or she wish, but must follow the classification the society has defined. According to Ruth (1993) our daily lives are influenced by race and gender, whether we are aware of it or not. Everyone sees life through a racial lens that colors our society. This view leads to the racial formation. Judith (1998) defines racial formation as a socio-historical process whereby categories are formed, inhibited, changed, and destroyed. By socio-historical, Judith (1998) meant that race was created and given meaning by society due to the many historical events that happened over time. The society classifies people as white, black, Asian or any other minority group (Ruth, 1993). Therefore, the way are seen and how we see other people affects different aspects of our lives. These elements can include the type of friends we have, the kind of job we have, and the amount of money we make. They may also include the type of school we attend and many other things that make us...
Words: 676 - Pages: 3
...Whiteness is socially constructed in American society by several different factors. The idea of race itself is socially constructed as it has nothing to do with genetic makeup or ethnic background. Race is simply constructed by what people observe by the color of a person’s skin. In society whiteness is viewed as one side of a spectrum with black being on the other and all other races falling somewhere in the middle. This view sees whiteness as the opposite of people perceive as being a quality of people that are African American. People define what these qualities are by what they see in the media and interactions they have with the world. In the media African American males are consistently being presented in a negative light by what the...
Words: 528 - Pages: 3
...Distinguish between the concepts of race and racism. Do you agree that the concept of race is socially constructed? Can you use the conceptual framework for understanding identity to understand racial discrimination? ……………………………………………….....………………………………………………………………………………………… ….………………………..………………………………………………………………………….......................................................... To answer the following question, we would go through a re-interpretation of the word race. Followed by the biological, historical and social aspects of race from where race becomes racism (idea of social construction which in itself contains the notion of Identity). When we claim the view of race on identity, we are slowly drifted to the currents of Ethnicity. Race is a modern concept. The English language didn‟t even have the word „Race‟ until 1508 when William Dunbar referred race to a lineage of Kings in his poem. Historical records show that neither the idea nor ideologies of race existed before the seventeenth century. We will now randomly take up a definition of Race, keep it as a base for understanding and then reinterpret it if required. According to “Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy”, the concept of race has historically signified the division of humanity into small number of groups based on five categories. i. Races reflect some type of biological foundations. ii. This biological foundation creates discrete racial groupings such that all people of the same group share the same biological characteristics...
Words: 2224 - Pages: 9
...Introduction The social construction of the “Muslim race” has influenced the racialisation of the community on the basis of their Muslim identity. The racialisation process has been exacerbated by the recent terror attacks in France and Belgium, resulting in the unjust attachment of these acts to the Muslim community. Anti-Muslim racism is now the predominant form of racism in Britain, manifesting itself on an institutional and individual level (Mahamadille, 2005). This essay aims to discuss the reality of anti-Muslim racism in Britain through processes of racialisation and through manifestations of anti-Muslim hostility and discrimination. But first emphasis is placed on how “the Muslim race” has become socially constructed by mainstream British society. Social Construction of “Muslim Race” Social constructionists share the belief that categorisation on the basis of biologically transmitted traits is a pseudo that traditionally was used to justify the unequal treatment of certain groups by others (mainly relating to skin colour) (Machery, 2005). Biology, religion and culture merely provide the materials from which we socially construct the ideas of difference and community. Scholars now widely believe that race is socially constructed as opposed to biologically based (Bonilla, 1997). The “Muslim Race” is arguably the greatest example of a socially constructed race in recent times. Despite major differences in skin colour, nationality and culture, the Muslim community have...
Words: 936 - Pages: 4
...Some of the lessons and insight provided through school finance, school choice, and disciplinary policies and reform has included: equity in school financing, establishing stability in school financing, and targeting schools who need it and valuing marginalized mentalities and norms. The Promise Neighborhoods Program, with a slight change, would be a great remedy in helping to solve the inequalities and inequities in the public school system. It addresses the multi-faceted nature that contribute to inequalities in the educational system by first identifying that race plays a role in the outcome of children and youth in low-income neighborhoods. The program also addresses establishing stability and a more permanent solution, rather than a bandage solution, in helping the public schools that it serves by helping to develop the local infrastructure of systems and resources for public schools in order for them to sustain and scale up proven, effective solutions across the broader region beyond the initial neighborhood. The program also addresses the problems in zero-tolerance policies because it helps to build a comprehensive continuum of cradle-to-career solutions in both educational programs as well as family and community supports, with great schools at the center. Empirical studies have shown...
Words: 1875 - Pages: 8
...being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes. They are context/ time-specific and changeable. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or a man in a given context. In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities. Gender is part of the broader socio-cultural context. Other important criteria for socio-cultural analysis include class, race, poverty level, ethnic group and age. (UN Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women: 10/05/00) World Health Organization: The word gender is used to describe the characteristics, roles and responsibilities of women and men, boys and girls, which are socially constructed. Gender is related to how we are perceived and expected to think and act as women and men because of the way society is organized, not because of our biological differences. [9] Health Canada: Gender refers to the array of socially constructed roles and relationships, personality traits, attitudes, behaviours, values, relative power and influence that society ascribes to the two sexes on a differential basis. Gender is relational - gender roles...
Words: 299 - Pages: 2
...Javier Cepeda Harris SYD4700 Reaction Paper #1 1. According to Farley, the concept of race consists of two components: social and physical. Social recognition and identity as a distinct group is important for a group of people to be considered a race. Also, every race is considered to be somewhat distinct in appearance from others. However, the fact that physical appearances matter when defining race is what makes it a “socially constructed” concept. The different races that are known to us today each carry a physical characteristic in which it identifies with, but what is important to note is how these differences were chosen. Society as a whole is what chooses the physical component in race and because of this it varies from time to time and place to place. 2. To support the statement that race is a “socially constructed” concept one must consider that racial formation, which is the process in which race operates as a central axis of social relations (Gallagher 19), is said to be a result of diverse historical practices (Omni and Winant). It is clear that racial terms and identities are something that has been shaped by the general public over time. For someone to claim they are black or white is nothing out of the ordinary in our society today, but what is intriguing is the fact that as recent as the late 19th century such racial grouping would have been quickly challenged. The term “black” came about when the distinction of indentured servitude and racial slavery...
Words: 782 - Pages: 4
...Darby Leaf Intro to Soc 3/2/17 I will start this week’s discussion off by defining the term race. According to the book, race refers to a group of people who share a set of characteristics, usually physical ones, but not always. People among a race are said to share a common bloodline. When considering race to be a myth or that it is fake is just saying that it is a social construct. Many times people that are of different races believe that they possess different and unequal traits coupled with the power to restrict freedoms based on those differences. This of course would be a social construct. A person should not have more power over another just solely based on the way that they look. Sociologists believe that humans create...
Words: 266 - Pages: 2
...typically with reference to social or cultural differences rather than biological.’(Michigan University – 2010). In this essay I will explore and investigate both sex and gender, whilst identifying the differences between the two. I will start by elaborating on the given definitions. Sex is defined on the Princeton University website as ‘biological’. This is a word that has recurred in many other definitions that I have researched for the word ‘sex’. This would suggest that sex is able to be categorized in a straight forward manner. However, there are several high profile cases in the media, when the issue of ‘sex’ has come into question. Perhaps most recently is the case of South African athlete, Caster Semanya. Semanya won the 800m race during the African Junior Championship, with the fastest time of the year. This lead to some spectators questioning her sex. When looking at the athlete she has an incredibly muscular and angular frame, and this coupled with her record breaking run made the International Athletic Association ask for a sex test. This case brought the issue of ‘sex’ into much disrepute. Now, we are led to believe that there is a third option, rather than just Male or Female. Scientists use the term ‘intersex’ to describe an individual who is ‘born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.’ (Tasmanian Department of Education- 2010). This somewhat confuses the majority of definitions of ‘sex’...
Words: 1974 - Pages: 8
...SOW 5629 Lecture 1 Constructing Differences The readings in this text explore how the categories of race, class, gender, and sexuality are socially constructed and transformed into systems of inequality. I. Introduction Your author states that the categories that we use to describe ourselves and those around us are the product of social rather than biological factors. Relative to race, it is unlikely that anyone is “racially pure.” But we have to recognize the social factors, because these are the bases for social interaction in our daily lives. These social factors make them culturally significant in our daily interactions. Question: Just because we are culturally different, does that make difference itself into a negative? No, it is not differences that are necessarily negative. In fact, cultural differences make us more interesting to one another. So differences in and of themselves, do not make us unequal. **It is the meanings and values applied to these differences that make them harmful. So when we apply meanings and values to these differences, we are essentially creating structures of social stratification – a system by which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy, and how social stratification results in systems of inequality. In this hierarchy, those at the top of it, are deemed to have positive attributes, and are the keepers of the culture and society. Therefore, they are viewed as being more moral, and intelligent...
Words: 2204 - Pages: 9
