In: Psychology
What is the difference between race and ethnicity? And what does it mean when your book discusses the idea of the social construction of race?
Race is a socially constructed concept that doesn't have any base in biology or culture. Race is solely based on the color of skin and discriminates people on the basis of it. The concept of race was introduced by Europeans to maintain their supremacy over the people of their colonies who were different from them and had different societal rules and norms. This created hierarchy and the European masters enjoyed their dominance over people of color.
Ethinicity is distinguishing people on the basis of cultural factors as traditions, beliefs and practices, language, rituals and ceremonies, etc. People of this world belong to different ethinic backgrounds and differ culturally, even in a country people belong to different ethinic backgrounds.