Identity Through Race and Ethnicity Concept 2022

Running head: IDENTITY THROUGH RACE AND ETHNICITY 1
How does the concept of identity been explained within the social categories of race and
ethnicity
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Identity through Race and Ethnicity

IDENTITY THROUGH RACE AND ETHNICITY 2
Introduction
The concept of identity in the society includes such qualities, personality, beliefs,
expressions and/or looks that make a group or a person. Identity is defined by aspects of
ethnicity and race. These determine which family or group of people individuals identify
themselves with. The various elements that shape identity include religion, skin color, gender,
culture, race, ethnicity, and language or any other commonality shared among people of one
group (Healey, Stepnick, and O'Brien, 2018, p. 21). Identity is passed on from one generation to
another based on where one is born. The people who teach about identity include the family,
religious groups, cultural groups in which people are members. Tribes in Africa are characterized
by backwardness and primitivism which refer to indigenous or non-western groups such as Latin
America, Africa and Asia (Markus, 2010, p.369). The paper will evaluate the importance of
identity in the society, why race and ethnicity shape identity, the self in the society, the positive
side of race and the problems associated with it.
Problem statement
Identity is very importance as it gives people a sense of belonging to a common group. It
makes one feel confidence regarding the self in the society. One knows where to get help, share
common ideas, get emotional, social, and physical support in times of need and much
importantly, people to call family. People have to understand the concept of identity in terms of
race and ethnicity so that they know its benefits and bad aspects related to it so that they know its
importance in their lives (Dalal, 2013, p. 97). As much as identity gives people confidence and a
sense of belonging, it also has negative aspects such as discrimination along racial and ethnic
lines. This means that the study is needed to shed some light into the issue.
Self in the society

IDENTITY THROUGH RACE AND ETHNICITY 3
Self in the society is based on what makes up an individual in terms of religion, culture,
language, gender, race, ethnicity, skin color or any other aspect that helps define a person. The
confidence people have to identify themselves with a group in the society determines how they
live in the community. One is ready to strongly defend the group to which he or she is affiliated
based on race or ethnicity. In simple terms the self is determined by the ethnic or racial group
from which one comes from (Phillips, 2012, p. 37). For instance the Africans term themselves as
blacks as this is what makes them common. Their race is black and this is determined by the skin
color. The same way applies to the whites who make up a different race. The race gives people a
sense of belonging and determines who they are in the society. Members of one ethnic group are
associated with shared ancestry, cultural heritage, history, ideology, language or dialect and
homeland (Markus, 2010, p.361).
Race and ethnicity
Historically, the aspect of race has been changing across eras, and cultures eventually
becoming more connected to superficial physical characteristics and less concerned with the
ancestral family ties. From the past, theorists have been positing the categories of race basing it
on various ethnicities, geographical regions, skin color and more. The labels for groups of people
based on race connote regions, for instance the Caucas Mountains and Mongolia or denoted skin
tones such as white, black, red and yellow (Phillips, 2012, p. 37). However, the typology of race
that was developed during the early racial science is falling into disuse while the social
construction of racialization or race is becoming a common way to understand racial categories.
Ethnicity on the other hand describes culture, values, beliefs and practices, of a group of
people that they share. The ethnicity concept also includes the shared religion, language,
traditions and other commonalities. Just like race ethnicity also shapes identity but being difficult