Race as a Social Construct - 646 Words

Race as a social construct An imagined concept with real consequences The concept of race is fundamentally a social construct. It is based on a notion of difference, of ‘otherness’, ‘blackness’, ‘whiteness’, identity, nationalism and multiculturalism. ‘Race’ matters, as despite being biologically disputed, its social impact is immense. Despite being an unreal social construct, it is real in its consequences. It affects life prospects and influences health, wealth, status and power. As such, a critical deconstruction of the pernicious, pervading and often all too determinative discourse of racial categorisation is crucial to social progress. We must dissect and discern what gives rise to these ideologies. How is race defined? What criteria, intellectual contexts, or psychological misconceptions lead to such discrimination? (109 words) Morning, Ann. June 07 2005. On Distinction. In Is Race Real? a web forum organised by the Social Science Research Council. http://raceandgenomics.ssrc.org/Morning/. Morning argues that there are underlying social and political agendas which shape the formation of racial distinctions. The nomination of what factors are measured, which tools are used to measure, and how the results are interpreted ultimately form the basis of our racial categories. Morning’s work is an online forum piece, and as such it’s reliability is limited. Despite this, Morning’s presence within the academic community as a sociology professor, including her publishedShow MoreRelatedRace As A Social Construct1566 Words   |  7 PagesRachel Marx PHL-137-01 Dr. Wolf March 17, 2017 Race as a Social Construct Charles W. Mills argues that even if there is no biological notion of race that can underwrite our social one, our social one still has some objectivity to it. He provides details for many hypothetical and real life instances in order to back up his argument. My view, along with Mills’, is that race is socially constructed, and has been socially constructed long before I even had an opinion on the topic. I will explore everyRead MoreRace As A Social Construct1057 Words   |  5 PagesRace as a social construct refers to a group that is socially and culturally defined on the basis of physical criteria. During European colonisation, Europeans came into contact with people from different areas of the world and after speculating the physical, cultural and social differences between the groups; these groups were placed in races. By defining racial classifications, racism ensues. Racism is discriminating, exerting prejudice and or power over a group or individual based on the bel iefRead MoreRace As A Social Construct1087 Words   |  5 PagesThe concept of race is an ancient construction through which a single society models all of mankind around the ideal man. This idealism evolved from prejudice and ignorance of another culture and the inability to view another human as equal. The establishment of race and racism can be seen from as early as the Middle Ages through the present. The social construction of racism and the feeling of superiority to people of other ethnicities, have been distinguishably present in European societies asRead MoreRace as a Social Construct Essay891 Words   |  4 PagesRace as a Social Construct Omi and Winant’s discussion from â€Å"Racial Formations† are generally about race being a social construct and is also demonstrated in the viewing of Race - The power of an illusion. Omi and Winant have both agreed that race is socially constructed in society. Ultimately this means that race is seen differently in different societies and different cultures. Media, politics, school, economy and family helps alter society’s structure of race. In the viewing , also mediaRead MoreEssay on Race as a Social Construct1635 Words   |  7 PagesRacialization, to differentiate or categorize according to race, is still prominent in todays society. Race, a social construct, was created by society. There is no gene in the human body that defines what race you are, therefore, it is only an idea that individuals came up with. Yet, people in todays society still categorize individuals by their race and stereotype individuals by what race they most resemble. People grow into this society with the idea embedded into their heads that the whiterRead MoreInequality: Race And Racism. The Race Is A Social Construct1371 Words   |  6 PagesInequality: Race and Racism The race is a social construct that has real life consequences. The race is a fiction created by the dominant part of the society in order to legitimize their supremacy on those they wish to regulate. Racism: a term that was first coined by the Nazis in the 1930s in their attempt to make Germany clean of Jews . The race is a social construct that has both biological and cultural aspects but not based on scientific truths. The origin of the racial differences can be trackedRead MoreRace Is A Biological Reality Or A Social Construct?1566 Words   |  7 PagesI used to think that race was a social construct more of a biological reality until I read all these articles. They changed my perspective and I have come to realize different things. My opinion is now divided into two; I am in that middle point where I can see both ways of the argument as valid and reasonable and agree with both. First, I will explain why I think it is a biological reality, then, I will explain why it can also be a social construct, and lastly how have these debates shaped the viewsRead MoreSocial Construction Of Race And Gender1529 Words   |  7 PagesSocial Construction of Race and Gender, Patriarchy and Prejudice and Discrimination in the Society Social construct may be defined as the social mechanism or a category which has been created by the society. It may either be a perception which is created by an individual or an idea which is constructed as a result of the culture. The present society has created a large number of constructs which are not good. In this paper, the discussion will be done on the social construction of raceRead MoreDebating Sex and Gender and After Identity1486 Words   |  6 Pagesdemonstrate how sex, gender, and race are all social constructs. Do you agree or disagree with her argument, and why? Concepts of sex, gender and race in English language have undergone uncountable naturalization and universalities, to a point that they are now considered to have always been present. There are numerous arguments that revolve around the three concepts of human diversity. Dr. Warnke for example argues that the three concepts above are social constructs (Warnke 153). This paper isRead MoreDebating Sex and Gender and After Identity1479 Words   |  6 Pagesdemonstrate how sex, gender, and race are all social constructs. Do you agree or disagree with her argument, and why? Concepts of sex, gender and race in English language have undergone uncountable naturalization and universalities, to a point that they are now considered to have always been present. There are numerous arguments that revolve around the three concepts of human diversity. Dr. Warnke for example argues that the three concepts above are social constructs (Warnke 153). This paper is