Within every society there are elements created by social construction. The theory of social construction refers how a society as a whole assigns meaning to objects and characteristics. For example, a cross is simply two lines intersecting until Christianity is assigned to it. These meanings hold no value without the existence of human societies and are not based on facts. The unique story of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells encompasses social construction when applied to race, which is accompanied by struggles with discrimination and authority.
The idea of race is as old as recorded history. Race can be defined as “Human constructed categories that assume great social importance. Those categories are typically based on observable traits and geographic origins believed to distinguish one race from another (Ferrante 214).” Along with physical characteristics, skin color being the most common, social characteristics and stereotypes are associated with a race which often go unquestioned or are considered to be obvious, Ferrante refers to this idea as racial common sense (215). …show more content…
Some of their personal beliefs may have plagued themselves further. Beliefs are the “concepts that people accept as true, concerning how the world operates and where the individual fits in relation to others (Ferrante 58).” Skloot repeats Day and the other Lack’s opinion of doctors. They viewed doctors as authorities and it was common practice to simply do whatever they said. “Doctors knew best, patients didn’t question that (63),” analyses Skloot. This was a common view of blacks who were largely under educated and just happy to be treated. As a result of this thinking doctors convinced the Lacks family to allow them access to all of Henrietta’s cells and tissues during an autopsy Day was not comfortable with, and much later blood samples later were taken from the Lacks family without them truly knowing
The idea of race is as old as recorded history. Race can be defined as “Human constructed categories that assume great social importance. Those categories are typically based on observable traits and geographic origins believed to distinguish one race from another (Ferrante 214).” Along with physical characteristics, skin color being the most common, social characteristics and stereotypes are associated with a race which often go unquestioned or are considered to be obvious, Ferrante refers to this idea as racial common sense (215). …show more content…
Some of their personal beliefs may have plagued themselves further. Beliefs are the “concepts that people accept as true, concerning how the world operates and where the individual fits in relation to others (Ferrante 58).” Skloot repeats Day and the other Lack’s opinion of doctors. They viewed doctors as authorities and it was common practice to simply do whatever they said. “Doctors knew best, patients didn’t question that (63),” analyses Skloot. This was a common view of blacks who were largely under educated and just happy to be treated. As a result of this thinking doctors convinced the Lacks family to allow them access to all of Henrietta’s cells and tissues during an autopsy Day was not comfortable with, and much later blood samples later were taken from the Lacks family without them truly knowing