Construction of Race in the United States Race is, according to Merriam-webster.com (2015), “a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics”. The perceptions regarding race have changed and developed over a period of time (Winant, 2000). In the past, the concepts regarding race were viewed from a biological construction standpoint and had constantly contained specific aspects such as geographical location, heredity, and physical features (Winant, 2000; Graves, 2010). However, around the world and in the United States, social construction is mostly used to identify one’s race (Winant, 2000). Today, perceived perceptions, along with physical features, such as skin color, is easily noticed and is used when
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The biological construction of race consist of one’s DNA (Lewontin, 2006). Scientists have determined that every human is a part of the Homo sapiens species. They have also determined that because everyone is part of the same species, everybody shares a mutual descent. Throughout history, external traits that are visible, such as facial features, skin color, and hair form, have been used to determine one’s race (“American Association,” 1996; Lewontin, 2006). This aspect of biological construction of race is still seen in today’s society (Machery & Faucher, …show more content…
Race is a group of people based on their characteristics, habits, or shared interested (“Race,” 2015). Before, concepts of race included geographical location, heredity, and physical features, which come from a biological construction of race perspective (Graves, 2010; Winant, 2000). In today’s society, race is viewed from a social construction viewpoint where predetermined perceptions along with physical features are used to try and determine what one’s race is (Healey & O’Brien, 2015, p. 18; Winant, 2000). The first ideas of race came from events including colonialism, immigration, and changes between demographics and populations. These changed are what distinguished dominant and subordinate groups. The dominant groups consisted of whites and they were given power. Subordinate groups were those who were not white. Those in the subordinate groups were not given rights and were discriminated against (“The Big Picture,” n.d.). Social construction has excluded, denigrated, and rejected those who were not white (Healey & O’Brien, 2015, p. 17). An Immigration Act was passed in the 1920s. This act limited how many immigrants could enter the United States and excluded Asians altogether. The Immigration Act helped provide society with racial stereotypes against anyone who was not white (“The Immigration Act,” n.d.;
The biological construction of race consist of one’s DNA (Lewontin, 2006). Scientists have determined that every human is a part of the Homo sapiens species. They have also determined that because everyone is part of the same species, everybody shares a mutual descent. Throughout history, external traits that are visible, such as facial features, skin color, and hair form, have been used to determine one’s race (“American Association,” 1996; Lewontin, 2006). This aspect of biological construction of race is still seen in today’s society (Machery & Faucher, …show more content…
Race is a group of people based on their characteristics, habits, or shared interested (“Race,” 2015). Before, concepts of race included geographical location, heredity, and physical features, which come from a biological construction of race perspective (Graves, 2010; Winant, 2000). In today’s society, race is viewed from a social construction viewpoint where predetermined perceptions along with physical features are used to try and determine what one’s race is (Healey & O’Brien, 2015, p. 18; Winant, 2000). The first ideas of race came from events including colonialism, immigration, and changes between demographics and populations. These changed are what distinguished dominant and subordinate groups. The dominant groups consisted of whites and they were given power. Subordinate groups were those who were not white. Those in the subordinate groups were not given rights and were discriminated against (“The Big Picture,” n.d.). Social construction has excluded, denigrated, and rejected those who were not white (Healey & O’Brien, 2015, p. 17). An Immigration Act was passed in the 1920s. This act limited how many immigrants could enter the United States and excluded Asians altogether. The Immigration Act helped provide society with racial stereotypes against anyone who was not white (“The Immigration Act,” n.d.;