Race and Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexual Orientation, Essay Example

The racial perspectives of science have sought to provide an explanation for the distinctions of wealth, education, intelligence and health as being the results of unchangeable biological aspects of the members of different racial groups. The progress which has been achieved mapping the human DNA and a greater comprehension of the biological associations with DNA has motivated a renewed racial scientific perspective. The scientific perspective has developed in the light of proof that the racial groups are not given to specific racial attributes which can be determined as scientifically significant. These debates have been deficient in their consideration of race as not being a scientific construct. Race is considered to be a social construct (Smedley & Smedley, 2005).

Race is a social construct which has come into existence in recent history. The concept of race occurred after individuals from different continents began to communicate. The science of racial analysis and its determination that there are unchangeable distinctions in the racial groups is the foundation for the inequalities in social and economic distribution. The response in turn from democraticgovernments is that race must be perceived in a historical and social perspective (Smedley & Smedley, 2005).

The concept of culture ids detailed as being the intricate form which is composed of customs, laws, morals, beliefs and knowledge which are taught to the members of society. Culture is not a biological attribute. Culture is a pattern of behavior and thinking which include patterns of creativity. Human beings adopt culture in their development. There is no biological basis for the acquisition of culture (Smedley & Smedley, 2005).

Conclusion

Race is a method of forming a social order. This social order justifies the distribution of social and economic opportunity on the basis of perceived racial hierarchy. The subjugation of specific races (i.e., Africans, Maori, and American Indians) is seen as a byproduct of the scientific perspectives on race.

References

Smedley, A., & Smedley, B. D. (2005). Race as biology is fiction, racism as a social problem is real. American Psychologist, 60(1): 16- 26.