SA 101 Lecture 4: Week 4_ Why _Race_ Matters

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SA 101
• Professor: Bascom Guffin

Document Summary

Race = the presumed hereditary, physical traits of a group of ppl. Often regarded as a natural category that we are assigned w at birth - smth we inherently are , fixed and unchanging. Europe and na - divisions commonly based on terminology that focuses on physical and geographical diffs. Essentialism = problematic belief that a group of ppl possesses a set of inherent characteristics, often w regard to their ethnic heritage, gender, class, and sexuality. Eg. ppl of african descent are natural athletes . Ppl"s prejudices have more to do w racial categroies than actual physical or biological features of ppl. Race is a form of identity resulting from sociocultural beliefs, not biology. Social construct = exists the sociocultural beliefs; is contingent on social groups and their common agreement and enforcement of the construct. Not based in objective, natural, or universal truths .