Chapter 11, Problem 1CC-P270

Summary Introduction

Introduction

There is no biological basis for race, but people with similar characteristics tend to group together for protection and familiarity. Differences in populations are the result of inbreeding and geographical separation. Categories on the census are based on skin color, not eye or hair color. They also do not take into account any cultural factors that are related to one's self-description of their race.

Explanation of Solution

Answer and explanation

The census provides evidence that the concept of race is a social construct for a number of reasons. First, the race options on the census are based on skin color differences. This characteristic is arbitrarily chosen, as it would work just as well to use eye color instead. Even though these are biologically determined features, the census makes a social distinction of the importance of one over another (hair color versus skin color versus eye color, and so on). Further evidence comes from science, which asserts that there is no genetic reason for the concept of race. The fact that the categories change also implies that the definition of race is a social one, since changes would not be needed if the concept of race was based on scientific facts. Several large cities have enclaves like “Chinatown”, or “Mexicantown,” in which people self-segregate based on shared culture and protection from outsiders.