Social Construction of Race - 1867 Words

There is perhaps no bigger and more expansive social construction known to man than the construction of race. In earlier times race meant a tie to national origin, Greek race, Roman race, etc. race underwent a big change in meaning to it’s more contemporary form to distinguish biological differences of physical features and skin color (Wiegman 157). Film and television in this century and the twentieth century have aided and perpetuated stereotypes of race. These stereotypes have been most associated with minority or non-white groups in particularly, and most discussed pertaining to African-Americans in these mediums. Dating back to the earliest silent films all the way through the 20th century and into the new millennium†¦show more content†¦Just like society at large, religion is, in America, the most important aspect and the dividing line between the â€Å"other†. Governor Al Smith of New York, an Irish-American and the Democratic candidate for president in 1928 faced fierce backlash for being Catholic and was a deciding factor in him losing the election (cite). Likewise thirty-two years later John F. Kennedy ran for president and face head winds so strong he had to address it at a Protestant ministers conference in Houston, TX, and demonstrate his insistence that he would not listen to the pope and was a loyal American (cite). Today fifty years after the Kennedy Administration what was â€Å"other† is now â€Å"white†, for instance, Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia both Italian-Americans both Catholics are as Wiegman describes â€Å"part of an expanding whiteness† (Wiegman 158). While the aforementioned example is not about film, the filmic representation of the marginalized white groups mirrors American society as a whole. If as Wiegman notes whiteness is expanding, how far will it expand? And if infinitely, what does that mean for African-Americans and o ther minority groups? Only time will tell. Following the Second World War the predicament of European Jews was of little to no concern to those in the United States according to Patricia Erens author of The Jew in American Cinema (197). In the 1950s with the onslaught of McCarthyism studios were against making anyShow MoreRelatedRace And Race : The Social Construction Of Race858 Words   |  4 PagesThe race is an indefinite term, which has not been created from science or research, but more so the idea of what it is. Essentially, race is all about perception. One person may separate races based on a certain category of traits while another person uses totally different guidelines to define what races there are. Race has ultimately been created socially, therefor has no biological components until people connect the two terms. This paper examines the connection between society and race whileRead MoreRace As A Social Construction1679 Words   |  7 PagesAlisha Sparks Dr. Stanley POLS 24 November 2015 Race as a Social Construction When we talk about race, what are we really talking about? The issue of race is a complex issue, with socially ambiguous undertones that have plagued our society for decades. Race has been a marker and maker of stereotypes. Race has been used as a justification for injustice. Whether slavery, Japanese internment, or social and economic exclusion, race has given an avenue for those in power to exclude ones deemed ‘other’Read MoreThe Social Construction Of Race1242 Words   |  5 Pagesfoundation for what appears to be the social construction of race. Somewhere along the lines, eugenics became more about isolating certain human characteristics, like skin color, and relegating them to a hierarchy of societal importance (Norrgard, 2008). Race is simply defined as a pattern-based concept that allows for the general public to draw conclusions based on an individual’s geographical location and thereby predetermining their inclusion into a particular social group (Yudel l, et al., 2016) TheRead MoreRace As A Social Construction822 Words   |  4 Pageswhat is race? The term race is difficult to define as a result of the belief that it is â€Å"racist† to talk about race. Although how do we know what race is if we do not discuss it within society. After much thought I defined race as an individual’s background that may be used to describe their ancestor’s demographics as well as their religion. However, today people tend to put more emphasis on race being the color of an individual’s skin. As discussed in class society does not understand what race is,Read MoreThe Social Construction Of Race1743 Words   |  7 PagesIn The Social Construction of Race, Ian F. Haney Lopez defines race as a social construct that is constantly changing its meaning due to the fickle nature of society. Lopez believes that this fickleness stems from a social climate formed by a variety of factors such as human economic interest, current events , and ideology. There are certain racial definitions however, that have remained mostly the same despite efforts to bring attention to the offensiveness and immorality of such discriminatory thinkingRead MoreThe Social Construction Of Race1638 Words   |  7 Pagesstupid immoral, diseased, lazy, incompetent, and dangerous to the white man’s virtue and social order â€Å"(p.181). Blackness have become objectified in public spaces, they are view as a threat on the street of Toronto, surrounding areas and even in the criminal justice system. In fact this negative stereotype of criminalization have put Black males under scrutiny and constant surveillance. The social construction of race by the dominant belief system are still embedded in society that capitalized on minoritiesRead MoreThe Social Construction Of Race2146 Words   |  9 PagesAbadjivor AFAS 304B Professor Machibya 30 March 2015 The Social Construction of Race The underlying characteristic of race concepts is found in its use of phenotypes and physical differences in order to gain an understanding of why there are different people that exist in the world. These differences have been used in understanding the behaviors, intellect, and the value of humans through connecting different characteristics to different classified races. Using phenotypical differences to understand certainRead MoreRace As A Social Construction966 Words   |  4 PagesRace is a concept only existing in societies with systems of oppression based on social racism. In chapter eleven: Inequality, they discuss how, â€Å"There is nothing intrinsic about, for example, any racial or ethnic group that makes it distinct from any other; race and ethnicity are dynamic, fluid categories that are socially defined†(Ritzer). The oppression of â€Å"superior† groups demonstrates on â€Å"inferior† groups is one consequence of race as a social construction, whic h is to have one’s identity reducedRead MoreRace Is A Social Construction1074 Words   |  5 Pagesthe term â€Å"race† should not be used. Scholars and others argue that the term â€Å"race† should not be used because there is no biological basis for the concept of race. Geneticists have determined that code for physical traits (the key distinguishing characteristic for â€Å"race†) are inherited independently of one another. Any attempts there have been to define race based on genes are futile, because there is no set of genes that everyone within the â€Å"race† has. Scholars argue that race is a social constructionRead MoreSocial Construction of Race1418 Words   |  6 PagesThe Use of Humor to Poke Fun at the Social Construction of Class: Illustrated in the Film The Jerk through Navin Johnson Money does not last forever. All the money in the world can become the reason why people change their personality and behavior. In the film The Jerk by Carl Reiner, a complete moron struggles to make it through life on his own, until a bizarre invention makes him unbelievably a wealthy man. Navin grew up in Mississippi as an adopted son of a black family, but on his birthday