Question

Compare and contrast what is meant by the social construction of race with what is meant by the social construction of ethnicity and what is meant by the social construction of gender. How or why is it beneficial to view these as social constructs? For you personally, are your racial, ethnic, and/or gender identities more matters of how you view yourself or of how others view you? Please explain. In what ways is how you view yourself influenced by the larger society and culture?

Answer 1

Social construct is an idea that has been created and accepted  by people in society.

Social construction of race -refers to physical differences that groups and cultures consider socially significant.Race is not biological it is a social construct where there is no gene or cluster of genes common to all whites or blacks.

Social construction of ethnicity- refers to shared culture such as language,ancestry,practices and beliefs.

Social construction of gender -refers to the views that society and culture has created gender roles and these roles are appropriate behavior of a person of that specific gender.

When we compare these three concepts its generally talking about the ideas of people on the physical differences,cultural practices and role differneces based on gender.

Social construct is beneficial as it based on jointly constructed understanding of world that form the basis for shared assumption about reality.Example includes the concept of currency as people in society have agreed to give it value.

Personally my view on social construct of race,ethnicity and gender in current scenario is eventhough each possess there own values and beliefs when it comes in society as common we all follow the common rules and by laws no matter what color we are,what culture we are from,whether male or female so there is no matters on these views,whereas when we consider  to small community all these are followed even till today.

Hence it depends on the people and community from there origin.