While social scientists across various disciplines have yet to settle on common definitions for the categories of race and ethnicity, sociologists have settled upon two widely shared definitions. Ethnicity is a subjective belief that people share a common descent, based on cultural similarities. Race, on the other hand, is the subjective belief that people share a common descent, based on physical traits. While ethnicity tends to be a category that people choose for themselves, race is a classification that is imposed by people outside the group. Sociologists believe that both categories – race and ethnicity – are social constructs.
Write an essay in which you demonstrate your mastery of what it means to argue that race is socially constructed. Draw on evidence from the textbook to support your argument and to demonstrate support for this stance.
