Race biological or a social construction?

Question

Obviously biology shows differences in hair and skin color which is an obvious visual difference. Therefore we as a society are easy to group people based on their features. However skin color varies so much that it isn’t a good determinant of race. The behavior of the races is mostly social, obviously it is more of a cultural thing that a biological thing.

When the human genome was deciphered they found that races didn't exist because just as other physical traits, if a group of people are secluded in a certain place, mate with only a certain type of people, they could show similarities. There was almost an infinite amount of races that can be made. But these differences are exaggerated; they were found to make a person no different than anyone else of the same race. For example; a tall person would be more different from a short person biologically/genetically. Yet is there a race of tall people that exist? But what is the perpetuator of race? Biology or sociology?

Answer 1

Race is a social construct. There may be differences physically from one person of one race to another person of another race and many physical traits might be particular to a certain group of people, but race is often a social construct because we are of the human race. Whether or not a person is built a certain way has more to do with the environment that person grows up in, like the old saying "we are a product of our environment." Genetic dispositions might be particular to a certain ethnic group, but that is more of a social and cultural and many cases environmental cause. We are the human race. The concept of race is just a social plot for division.

Answer 2

A social construction.

Answer 3

you answered one of my questions with a load of bullshit earlier, so i will answer one of your questions. Race falls under evolution, each skin color was developed as a result of each races environment. however, race also falls under cultural aspects, rituals are something that can be found in all races, these rituals can be as basic as singing a song while curing meat, somebody found that when they sang a certain song while curing the meat they wouldn't get sick later from eating, simply because they timed out how much salt to put on with the song, and that song worked the best so they went with it, its just simple things like that. but the main thing that makes the differences in race is pride, pride in being different from everybody else but still belonging to something, its one of humans most basic instincts to have that feeling of belonging yet we also crave to be unique, the idea of race though is completely obliterated when one comes to the conclusion that they are unique just like everybody else. as for the genetics of race, no two humans are alike, some may come close but they are still slightly different.

Now, in response to your answer to my question. you said that the human brain has no single structure that controls everything, thats because it is not in the brain, the single thing that controls the brain is the soul of the human being. The soul is what tells the brain what to do, it is that which pulls the trigger that sends the bioelectricity coursing through our neurons. you may have studied the brain but it seems you have forgotten the soul. Now, please contact me, seeing as how you don't want other people to contact you, here is my email [e-mail]

Answer 4

Racial differences were created by physical environment. It is the reason that brown and black people originate nearest the equator. And fair-skinned people originate nearest polar regions. People evolved biologically -- skin pigmentation, body fat, muscular structure, facial features, hair type (including amount of body hair) -- to thrive in their particular environment as a racial group. This is the "perpetuator" of race. Sociology, diet and modern life are changing races now. We are blending into "new" races -- taller, less hairy, etc.

Answer 5

The whole "race does not exist" argument is a political one. The people perpetuating this argument are merely trying to redefine the term "race" to mean "species". "There is only one race, the human race", right? Wrong. There is one human SPECIES, and several races. Can two purebred Collies mate and give birth to a purebred Rottweiler? Do breeds not exist within the canine world?
The physical differences between races are self evident, there are also documented scientific differences in resistance to diseases, behavior, and intelligence, just to name a few.
There is some very interesting data listed in my sources.

Answer 6

it is social and biological. social is that it comes from the society when certain people viewed other people in a different way and biological is that it effects them mentally that think they are right because they have position their body and brain cells to think like that and to commit any criminal acts against those people who are not their own race

Answer 7

I agree that it's definately cultural. I'm of cuban descent, and coming from the carribbean, we come in diffrent colors and structures... In the island of cuba, you'll see blacks, asians (oriental) white, etc. So, I agree you cannot judge a "race" by physical traits.

Answer 8

Neither biology nor sociology perpetrate the idea of race, but culture does.

Answer 9

Why does it have to be one way or the other? I think both biology and sociology determine our outcomes.

Answer 10

Sadly the idea is no different than classifying ourselves like dog breeds. The differences are used for the individuals asking the questions in order to give themselves a comfort zone when dealing with people not familiar to themselves.