Lucas Beaumont
While race is a unitary structure related to the biological variations of mankind, ethnicity is a social group with a common cultural and national tradition. The distinction between race and ethnicity is important because they are not the same, but rather are related to different cultural aspects and morphological features. Here are some definitions of each. You can use them to help you make sense of these terms. Let’s take a closer look.
Social
Racial and ethnic distinctions are social constructs. Historically, they have been used to discriminate, distribute resources unequally, and set up different standards for protection under the law. These inequalities are the result of public policy and private institutional actions. This article aims to shed light on the social differences between race and ethnicity. By exploring these differences, we will be able to better understand how they have shaped the lives of different groups.
Biological
Historically, humans have been classified into races based on physical characteristics. The concept of “race” evolved over the last five centuries with the rise of European colonialism. However, there is ample evidence for racial consciousness throughout human history. Ancient Egypt, for instance, had four main racial divisions. Aristotle noted that people from Asia lack spirit and spiritiness. Throughout history, this concept has manifested itself in various ways based on social conditions and racial prejudices.
Cultural
The cultural difference between race and ethnicity has been a debate for centuries, with some researchers believing the concepts are socially constructed and are subject to change over time. Historically, the concepts of race and ethnicity have been used to divide society, often based on physical appearance. Many recent cases of ethnic persecution have uncovered these problematic assumptions, and the idea that race is a superiority complex has been used to justify such attitudes.
Political
The concept of race is a social construction. While there is no biological basis for race, racial bias has fuelled social exclusion, discrimination, and violence against certain groups. Racial prejudice confers social privilege on some and social disparities on others, and is usually expressed in hierarchies that favor white skin over other skin colors. In the social sciences, race and ethnicity are distinct concepts, but many people adopt different affiliations based on race.
Economic
The economic difference between races and ethnicities has long been a concern, but there are some promising examples of how this difference can be overcome. In Southeast Asia, for example, the Chinese make up a tiny minority, yet the average Chinese household possesses 1.9 times the wealth of a Bumiputera. In the Philippines, the Chinese comprise only one percent of the population, but they hold over half of the country’s wealth. The same story holds true in Burma, Thailand, and Laos.
