This week we discussed about race and how it could be socially constructed. Throughout the discussion, I was always thinking what the difference between race and ethnicity is. Like where do you draw the line specifically? Then I came to the realization that the reason there is this confusion is because race is socially constructed, just like ethnicity kind of has too. Ethnicity is belonging to a certain group that shares similar beliefs and traditions. Race on the other hand is defined as a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits. Now looking at the two definitions side by side shows how close they really are. This then leads to my next point, of race being socially constructed.
Humankind is the only actual race that exists in the entire universe (or at least as of now). All these other Races-Japanese, Indian, Caucasian- are all made up by society. As said by The NY Times, "Race is not biological. It is a social construct. There is no gene or cluster of genes common to all blacks or all whites." This means that these races are not biological as there is nothing that is different from all of us except our perception of each other. Just because one person does not look the same as another, doesn't mean they have to be a different race. Society just categorizes them into these different looking groups of people. Race is also subjective to the people as one might look different to someone than to another person. For example, personally I have been seen as being Mexican by many people, even when I was young. However to the Indian community, that I am part of, sees and recognizes me as Indian, This is all bases on what the other people think and see not what I tell them or what I believe. Another example is, someone could be called black in America, but if that same person were to go to Africa, then they could be seen as white. As aforementioned, race is all perception of the other person. This is contradicted by the fact that ethnicity on the other hand, is what the person believes themselves to be.
Humankind is the only actual race that exists in the entire universe (or at least as of now). All these other Races-Japanese, Indian, Caucasian- are all made up by society. As said by The NY Times, "Race is not biological. It is a social construct. There is no gene or cluster of genes common to all blacks or all whites." This means that these races are not biological as there is nothing that is different from all of us except our perception of each other. Just because one person does not look the same as another, doesn't mean they have to be a different race. Society just categorizes them into these different looking groups of people. Race is also subjective to the people as one might look different to someone than to another person. For example, personally I have been seen as being Mexican by many people, even when I was young. However to the Indian community, that I am part of, sees and recognizes me as Indian, This is all bases on what the other people think and see not what I tell them or what I believe. Another example is, someone could be called black in America, but if that same person were to go to Africa, then they could be seen as white. As aforementioned, race is all perception of the other person. This is contradicted by the fact that ethnicity on the other hand, is what the person believes themselves to be.
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