The subject of race and its impact on Spanish’s social structure does not have a definitive answer; Patricia Seed and Rodney Anderson are two examples of different opinions regarding the matter. Seed conducted a study to prove race impacted Spanish society during the colonial era, “the aim of this study is to examine the extent to which the racial labels continued to be associated with the division of labor in the viceregal capital of New Spain towards the end of the colonial period.” However, Anderson contested Seed’s hypothesis by stating, “class factors relations had superseded racial ones as the primary indicators of socioeconomic status by the middle of the eighteenth century.” Both agree race impacted Spanish society but have vastly different opinions on how drastically race influenced a person’s social status.
Seed conducted her study on a census of Mexico City in 1753. She chose Mexico City because the city attracted both rich and poor; therefore, the city had a non-bias sample size. Seed dissected the different racial groups in Mexico City, and what occupation they had. Based on the information she collected, she concluded that certain races had a higher rate of obtaining a certain job, and …show more content…
She stated, “race and presumed racial differences were the basis criteria for social differentiation.” She later defined what race in New Spain was, “the social race of an individual was related to the combination of physical appearance, economic status, occupation, and family connections, in other words, to his overall socioeconomic position as well as to physical features.” This explanation of race gives support to Andersons claim, which was that economics and wealth determined the social structure, rather than race. It supports his claim because Seed described race as not only physical characteristics but one based on physical appearance and overall socioeconomic
Seed conducted her study on a census of Mexico City in 1753. She chose Mexico City because the city attracted both rich and poor; therefore, the city had a non-bias sample size. Seed dissected the different racial groups in Mexico City, and what occupation they had. Based on the information she collected, she concluded that certain races had a higher rate of obtaining a certain job, and …show more content…
She stated, “race and presumed racial differences were the basis criteria for social differentiation.” She later defined what race in New Spain was, “the social race of an individual was related to the combination of physical appearance, economic status, occupation, and family connections, in other words, to his overall socioeconomic position as well as to physical features.” This explanation of race gives support to Andersons claim, which was that economics and wealth determined the social structure, rather than race. It supports his claim because Seed described race as not only physical characteristics but one based on physical appearance and overall socioeconomic