Concept Identification Project

HDF 110

DEFINITION OF TERMS FROM LECTURE:

What is the difference between race, ethnicity and culture?

Race refers to classifications of humans into large and relatively distinct populations based on factors such as ancestry and sharing a common phenotype or appearance (race traditionally is defined by a person's color, features and hair.) This system is not necessarily accurate all the time but nonetheless recognized by many. Examples include Black, White, Indian, Native American, and Asian. Race is socially constructed as by itself it does not define actual biological groups but rather socially defined categories.

Ethnicity is generally understood as including your nationality or where the national boundaries of your ancestors lie. Nationality/ancestry may include: “German,” “Nigerian,” “Pakistani,” “Mexican,” “Cherokee,” “Japanese,” etc. May also include a person’s primary language and his/her religious affiliation.

Culture has to do with the way groups of people do things. For example, consider the celebration of Christmas. What are some of the common things that Americans who celebrate Christmas do? What about in Argentina? (children put their shoes on the porch and look for gifts in them on Christmas Day.) How are dating rituals different in the United States versus India? The differences in the answers to these types of questions are examples of customs or ways people do things, which is defined by culture.

EVERYONE has a culture…and it is influenced by ethnicity as well as membership in several other groups. Culture defines the accepted behaviors, roles, interpretations, and expectations of a social group. Culture also, gives people a sense of identity and provides distinctiveness between each group.