Race And Ethnicity: Aspects Shaping The Society

Race and Ethnicity Name Institution Race and Ethnicity Race and ethnicity are two very dynamic aspects shaping the society today and that has been very instrumental in the current state of the world today in regards to interaction and integration of people at both their domestic and international levels. A sociological approach in elaborating the intricate details of race and ethnicity helps in the understanding of both concepts and their influences in structuring the society. It is without a doubt, that the concepts of race and ethnicity play a significant role in the formation of social constructs and ideologies that have either formed peaceful coexistence or disintegration and marginalization certain members of the community. The concepts form the basis upon which people form affiliations through which they identify themselves and depending on the influence the group has on the rest of the community becomes the dominant or subordinate group of the society. The social constructs created or influenced by the concepts of race and ethnicity are characterized by superiority or inferiority complex fueled by inherited prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination of individuals or groups of people over the others. Comprehensive understanding of the concepts can only be achieved through the lens of sociological theories seeking to provide in-depth analysis of both while also providing for elaborate framework upon which coexistence is achieved in a society divided on the premise of race and ethnicity. It is common to hear in most conversations or dialogues in forums and platforms dealing with global matters addressing referring to the world as being a “village”. On more formal occasions it is referred to as the international community that consists of different nations with diverse characteristics that are unique to the individual state, republic, or country. At the global stage, representatives from each of the member states in the international community come together under one roof to address common challenges despite the social, political, and economic differences of their host nations. The coexistence of these nations in the global community is however marred with differences across the three aspects of any society. The noticeable differences amongst such congregations include skin color and languages spoken. Human beings have the tendency of developing or forming associations based on certain factors with which they identify themselves. A group of people sharing these common factors and in which they collectively believe and identify themselves forms a society or a community. People within the societal set up go on further to form social constructs that categorize individuals according to various aspects ranging from either the responsibilities held or financial status and wealth of an individual. Among the differences witnessed in the society, it is the concept of race and ethnicity that stands to be the most contentious and divisive issue demanding special attention from leaders and citizens around the world. It is important to dissect the two concepts from a sociological standpoint so as to establish the basis for establishing and explaining the correlation between them and their subsequent influences in the society. Recently, the concept of race has become one of the most sensitive issues as it is determined by the skin color of a person or given groups. The two most known races in the world are the “whites” and the “blacks”, the former having lighter skin color tone with the latter having a darker skin tone. People identify themselves and form social groups based on these feature to differentiate themselves from those with different skin color. The biological difference of the color of the skin tends to form a significant social difference between two or more groups within the society. However, certain biological or physical features such as the different sizes colors of people’s eyes have no much influence in how the society forms these social constructs based on race. Race can, therefore, be defined as a group of people who identify themselves with certain superficial features common to them which also differentiate them from the rest of the community members. The group of people identifying themselves through common superficial characteristics can at times or often develop common beliefs and ways of doing things in what is known as a culture. The perception of various social, political, and economic ideologies by members of these particular groups is usually gained through learning of its cultural ways. The groups shared cultural beliefs and practices, principles, and perspectives are usually unique and distinct from those of other groups. The concept of ethnicity arises from such affiliations which identify themselves through the sharing of common cultural background and heritage. Some of the features that are characteristic of an ethnic grouping include the speaking of a common language, religion, and common story of origin or ancestral background. The concept of race and ethnicity give a detailed information that helps in the understanding of what dominant or minority groups. A group identifying itself with a particular superficial feature can also be sharing a common belief of superiority enhanced by the specific features and thus end up taking advantage of the group with different identity feature. The feeling of superiority over the other groups could also be propagated by the cultural practices adopted by the group which may be deemed more advance over the ones followed by different entities. The disregard for the other groups’ rights and freedoms to exercise, practice and enjoy their cultural beliefs in equality as a sign of dominance is what constitute the majority or dominant group. Contrary to the popular belief, the numerical perception of majority rule does not usually apply in the sociological assessment of the majority or minority groups. The Whites, in the United States, for instance, do not have the numerical advantage but have dominance over the other social groups and thus often referred to as the majority group. The minority groups are those who face discrimination by the dominant groups across the s...