Why Is Race Considered A Social Construct

When I think about race and ethnicity, they are used interchangeably, however it can be problematic because there is a distinction between these two. Race is considered a social construct because race has always been defined by the dominant group in society. Our society is progressing every day, however, we are still dealing with racial discrimination and inequality. Race is considered complex and race shapes the way that some people relate to each other, based on their belief that it reflects physical, intellectual, moral, or spiritual superiority or inferiority (American Sociological Association 5). Ethnicity focuses on one’s origin or nationality; it represents one’s cultural background and their belief system. Understanding what race and ethnicity is I feel that media has shaped our minds in society.

The dominant group is considered to be the Europeans, while the subordinate groups are being considered to be people of color; that is considered to have little or no power.

Ethnicity plays a role that deals with our identity, where we come from. Even though our outward appearance may be “white”, “black”, or “Latino”, we can me made up of other ancestries within our family. Mass media of the shows and films that we watch misconstrues what type of person each racial groups are. Stereotypes trigger our mindsets before we even meet a person. When we meet someone for the first time, what do we notice (alongside their sex), race. It becomes hard when someone cannot (racially) categorize someone that is “mixed” with different ethnic backgrounds. Race serves as a basis for the distribution of social
privileges and resources. Among the many arenas in which this occurs is education (American Sociological Association

7).
In the reading, it discusses how school districts continue to classify by race and class where class inequalities prepare students for different education and career paths. From experience of my own I have always felt pressured and there are people that are always expecting more from me. My learning ability represents how I can retain the materials and utilizing my resources to have a very promising future. Within the school system especially in middle school and high school there are different level of classes such as traditional, honors, and AP. We take placement test growing up that decides what classes we will take based on our scores. My hometown does a great job having college ready classes for Freshmen-Seniors to prepare for College. Though there are some places that don’t have the resources to prep for students for college. That prepares us for job recruitment that may have limited
What I have perceived from these readings this week is that race and ethnicity are two terms that people misinterpret. Race deals with dominance in society; race is dealing with privilege. While ethnicity coincides with race. We all come from different backgrounds that make up a diverse society. When it comes to race there should never be competition when it comes to seeking and obtaining jobs based on race, but based on if this person meets the qualifications for a job. With Donald Trump being in office and being our President, I feel that we all have lost sight of trying to come together; “Making America Great Again” because we are all stuck on race being an issue causing more problems where it doesn’t unite us but separates us.