What do people mean when they say 'ethnic'?

Question

Examples:

So and so has ethnic hair.

So and so is very ethnic looking.


I usually hear it from people who are white ( I am not) so I am of the understanding that 'ethnic' means non-white.

Am I correct?...sociologically yet non-sociologically speaking.

I was not of the understanding that anyone meant any harm when saying 'ethnic'. I just don't understand why not say black, or Oriental or whatever.

I usually take it as if people are trying to walk on eggshells so not to offend anyone.

I know what ethnic means..however...Thanks for the definition.

Answer 1

An ethnic group is a human population whose members identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry (Smith 1986). Ethnic groups are also usually united by common cultural, behavioral, linguistic, or religious practices. In this sense, an ethnic group is also a cultural community.

From an objective standpoint, an ethnic group is also an endogamous population, that is, members of an ethnic group procreate primarily with other members of their ethnic group, something which is measurable in terms of characteristic average genetic frequencies. These differences, however, usually do not approach the magnitude of racial difference in that the genetic differences within an ethnic group are greater than the difference between any two ethnic groups. The characteristic of endogamy is reinforced by proximity, cultural familiarity, and also social pressure (in extreme cases, by legal command) to procreate within the ethnic group.

Answer 2

An ethnic group is a human population whose members identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry (Smith 1986). Ethnic groups are also usually united by common cultural, behavioral, linguistic, or religious practices. In this sense, an ethnic group is also a cultural community.

Answer 3

1.
1. Of or relating to a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage.
2. Being a member of a particular ethnic group, especially belonging to a national group by heritage or culture but residing outside its national boundaries: ethnic Hungarians living in northern Serbia.
3. Of, relating to, or distinctive of members of such a group: ethnic restaurants; ethnic art.
2. Relating to a people not Christian or Jewish; heathen.

Answer 4

no, ethnic means like white, black, caucasian, asian, etc, the ppl who say that are just stupid

Answer 5

a particular race is "ethnic"

Answer 6

non-white; and it's not necessarily a derogatory term though it can be used as such

Answer 7

yes.
and they don't mean any harm.
be proud of your race!

Answer 8

what the greatest said.