In the 16th century, the word that is now familiarized with distinctive physical traits between human beings, was merely used to recognize family ties, meaning that it was utilized to recognize descendants of a common ancestor while it ignored physical traits and characteristics. However, entering the 18th century, the word race gained a new meaning that separated humans into different groups. This word came to identify distinct groups of people by separating them by their unique characteristics, such as skin color and facial features; not only that, the word eventually set these groups of people into a hierarchy, claiming one groups superiority over another. The concept of race came to be established as a hierarchical category by Northern Europeans who had been isolated from people who were physically and culturally distinct, meaning they looked different and practiced contrasting beliefs. After slavery systems were established, Europeans were introduced to people who were different to what they deemed “normal” creating this distinction between groups of people with different characteristics and establishing the idea of race. Therefore, it is now understood that race has become a social construct used to classify individuals by their unique characteristics and not a biological distinction that separates us from what we truly are, humans.
Question 3: A few pseudoscientists still maintain …show more content…
Stereotypes and prejudice are inaccurate generalizations that involve negative representations of the subordinate group and usually positive representations of the dominant group. Many times, stereotyping can be an unconscious action, just like racial framing, these ideas are embedded in one’s mentality. Stereotyping can also come as a result of one’s psychology and personality. One’s nature can affect the view of others and can develop stereotypes about other races and ethnicities. However, one’s surrounding environment can also affect one’s way of thinking as negative stereotypes are infiltrated into one’s mind by the media and society itself. Stereotypes and prejudices are also formed to help justify the oppression of subordinate groups. In this way, by maintaining stereotypes and prejudices, dominant groups can rationalize their oppressing actions towards subordinate