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.

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