Week Four Critical thinking question (Responses should be 200 words in length an

Question

Week Four Critical thinking question (Responses should be 200 words in length and are due by Thursday) Think about the following statement found on page 39 chapter 2 of your text: "Races, it is argued, must exist because groups of people look different from other groups. Or is it that we perceive differences, and are these perceptions enculturated and reinforced by our social group?" Drawing from the video you watched for this week's assignment and what you have read in the text, discuss whether races do in fact biologically exist, or if they are a cultural construct which is taught to and learned by members of a culture. What are some theories which explain individual differences among humans?

Explanation / Answer

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Firstly, in the question, the term “race” is used instead of “ethnicity.” “Race” is genetic and can, therefore, be generally observed in the appearance, “ethnicity” is based on one’s culture. However, for the sake of the study, let us used the word “race”

Even the term “Race” has somehow become subjective based on the region and race in question. One could only make a conclusion based on illustrations of other races around the world. Let us assume two separate illustrations. First, the race of African descent has different ethnic backgrounds in the US and in the UK. Even though they have the same ancestry and look biologically the same, their ethnic backgrounds are vastly different. This is because they have been brought up in different social and cultural environments. In this case, one could state that even though these groups look similar, they belong to very different social groups.

In the second illustration, let us look at the “Dalits” or “Untouchables” that exist in India. Before the civil movement in India, the lowest casts was treated poorly and not even touched by the upper class, hence the word, “untouchables.” After the civil movement in the 1940’s, these individuals have the same rights and are entitled by the government to reparations in education, ration and even certain tax exemptions. To avail these reparations, they require a family certificate that places them in the “Dalit” caste. This is because; they look exactly like the people of the upper and lower class in the Hindu religious community. The only way to distinguish them is by their family name (surname).

Therefore, it can be concluded that, although appearances play a certain role, the matter of “race”, is mostly a social construct in most parts of the world.

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