The Social Construction Of Race Summary

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Lopez in the reading “The social construction of race” argues that race is socially rather than biological constructed. The importance, content and meaning of racial categories are shaped by social, economic and political processes not by fundamental genetic differences or biological markers. The manner in which we describe, understand and recognize racial categories is connected to larger societal structures and the way in which society is organized. Racial “differences” are significant not because of variations in biology but because of the social meanings subscribed to them at both the micro (between individuals) and macro (involving large scale social systems and institutions) level. Earlier dominant ideology viewed race as being essential,

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