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Social Differences: How Race Contribute To Social Identity

842 Words4 Pages

Clodagh Walsh
October 5th, 2017
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Social Identities
Paper 1 third draft

How Race and Ethnicity contribute to Social Identity
Introduction:
The way society view people depends on a number, of social factors, among these are Race and Ethnicity. “Race can be thought of as a genetically distinct sub-population of a given species.” (Hartmann, 2007) By contrast the term “ethnicity is used primarily in contexts of cultural difference, where cultural difference is associated with an actual or commonly perceived ancestry, with language markers.” (Fenton, 1999) The problems of inequality within ethnic and racial groups has improved in the last number of years. However, we still live in a world filled with stereotypes …show more content…

This is acceptable for objects, but not for human beings. Today if we saw a group of Muslims on the street, would we stare? Would we judge them on the way they look and feel threatened? These recent tragic terrorist attacks were not committed by the entire Muslim population, however, we tend to paint them all with the one brush. “This is racism, a definition for racism would be treating a person on, the basis of his or her race first, rather than as a person.” (Martin, 1990) The refugee crisis is a prime example of people’s social identity being influenced by racial status. This issue is an ongoing problem that might never be resolved if society continues to fail on trusting people based on their race. Innocent refugees not able to settle in countries because society has deemed them insignificant and inferior to their own safety, this is evidence that things need to change in relation to the way in which we view …show more content…

I have discussed discrimination and stereotying because it is topical and it clearly shows that one’s race and ethnicity carves their social identity. Individuals are not born with views on race and ethnicity. “ The acquisition of prejudice is a subtle and gradual development and is traceable.” (Maciver, 1964) I hope that in the future this will not be the case, that people from generations to come will have a more open outlook on society because at the end of the day we are all

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