SOC Post and Responses
Janay Stuckey
Week 6
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1. The questions that have emerged include whether or not people truly take their results seriously, whether or not they are actually true or oversimplified, and whether or not people cherry-pick their results like the ones they want to adopt. The reason that these may be such important questions for some is that they target our genetics, which can influence our temperament and behavior as well as our maturation according to our textbook.
2. Genetic testing reinforces the idea that one can be a different race previously unknown to them and that they longed for color capital or something that was more than white. It also reinforces the idea that so many people who are of Latino or African American backgrounds are mixed with other races and ethnicities since many of their origins are unknown due to slavery, deaths, and other factors. Lastly, the testing can create a notion that race is inconsequential today for everyone, which is false because race affects every opportunity granted to someone down to where they lay their head at night.
3. Genetic testing has some impact on ones individual ethnic identity, which can be harmful since these tests are oversimplified and not a definite answer. According to our textbook, ethnicity is a shared culture that may include language, religion, heritage, and more. It typically has the greatest impact on white individuals and those who think their personal identity matches better with the ones they previously knew or the new ones presented by the test. It also impacts those who believe their newfound ethnicity would be more widely accepted and appreciated than the ones they previously identified with.
4. I think genetic testing can be beneficial and detrimental. I think for those that have grown up in foster care, have an incomplete family tree, or suffer from the maltreatment of their ancestors, this may be a great way to find out more about themselves. I think for those who are only using it as a tool to see which one of their ethnicities or races are more popular so they can try to assimilate to it, it is detrimental. I think that if one wants to use this as a research opportunity to learn more about themselves and their heritage, go for it, but if one is just trying to conform to a group that they now claim as their own now to seem cool, leave the test for others to use.
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Amber Harbaugh
week 6
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Individuals are using genetic testing to discover who they are or what ethnicity they belong to. Ethnicity is defined as shared culture, such as language, religion, and heritage. If people are using genetic testing to discover their ethnicity, then they could be looking for a reason to reject the culture in which they were raised. Individuals may also feel that another culture is superior to their own, known as xenocentrism. However, learning you belong to different genetic backgrounds does not mean that you share the language, religion and heritage of that ethnic group.
I did find it interesting to read that white test consumers were more likely to be affected by genetic testing. The white consumers were looking for a sense of belonging to a specific group and were looking to adopt new ethnic and racial identities. When white consumers adopt these new ethnic and racial identities it can give the false view that race is not significant.
I really am not sure how I feel about genetic testing and whether or not it is more useful or harmful. On the one hand I think that people learning about their different ethnic backgrounds is good because it gives consumers that opportunity to understand their ancestry. However, if people are trying to adopt only certain aspects of ancestry and claiming it as their own, although they have no experience with the culture, I think that can be damaging to those who do share that culture.
My husband did a 23 and me test last year. He wanted to look through the medical aspect of the testing. He had recently been diagnosed as diabetic and wanted a medical history of sorts. During this he learned that he is primarily European and Irish. He had suspected through his fathers’ side that they were German, but he did not know about the Irish. He did not start identifying as Irish or German and begin following either of the cultural practices. He didn't change who he was and I think that is important to remember. However, the medical benefits that may come from such testing are another good aspect that can come from the genetic testing.
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