Question

How are race and ethnicity different from one another?


Race is determined by geographic location; ethnicity is defined by biological characteristics.

Ethnic groups immigrate into a country; racial groups are native to a country.

Ethnicity is cultural identification with a particular place or group, whereas race is based on biological ancestry.

Unlike ethnicity, race is based strictly on physical features.

Answer 1

Race is a socially constructed categorization based on physical characteristics such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features, while ethnicity encompasses cultural practices, traditions, language, and beliefs shared by a group of people. Race is often used to classify individuals into broad categories such as White, Black, Asian, or Hispanic, while ethnicity identifies individuals with a specific cultural heritage or ancestry, such as Irish, Chinese, or Nigerian. Additionally, race is often seen as a system of privilege or disadvantage in society, while ethnicity is more closely tied to cultural identity and sense of belonging.