SY101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Thomas Theorem, Chinese Head Tax In Canada, Ascribed Status
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Race (as a social category): a group with inherited physical characteristics that distinguish it from another group. Although based on physical characteristics, race is a social construct: what people believe to be real has real consequences (w. i. Modern geneticists say there is only one racial category, homo sapiens: 75% of all genes in a human being are identical to those in every other human being. But race is still hugely influential because people act on beliefs, not facts. Race as a social concept: a means of classifying people (social not biological categories) Biologically meaningless: no such a thing as racial (cid:498)superiority(cid:499, (cid:498)pure races(cid:499) just a myth, arbitrary classification system. Ethnicity: cultural characteristics & cultural heritage that distinguish groups. Ethnic belonging often centres on: nation of origin family names and relationships language, distinctive foods, dress, music, religion, and other customs. Ethnic work: how people construct, enrich and keep alive their group(cid:495)s distinctions & identity. Majority/dominant group against those with (cid:498)inferior(cid:499) characteristics.
