University Essay: Exploring the Effects of Culture and Race on Society

This essay explores the profound influence of culture and race on individuals and society. The author examines how cultural norms, traditions, and racial diversity shape personal experiences, perceptions, and interactions. Drawing from personal experiences and academic sources, the essay highlights the impact of cultural and racial biases, discrimination, and the formation of identity. The author discusses the importance of understanding and celebrating differences while condemning prejudices. The essay emphasizes the need for compassion and inclusivity in a diverse society, promoting a deeper understanding of cultural and racial dynamics. The essay uses references to support the claims.

Running head: ENGLISH
Sociology
Name of the Student:
Name of University:
Author Note

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Culture and race are very influential and shape how people look at themselves and each
other. Culture is an integral part of the society and shapes people’s thought and beliefs.
Therefore, racial and cultural diversity permeates through generation because people imbibe and
adhere to those subtle differences within the society (Spencer, 2014). The thesis of this paper is
to discuss how culture and race effect people’s lives through own experiences.
Culture is very influential to determine how we see the world and others around us.
Culture is a dominating force which can even change attitudes and perceptions. Culture is very
important to preserve values and traditions within the society. It affects how relationships are
built among people and how relate to one another. The immediate reality of culture and race
determine the experience of people and their responses to the society and people. Culture is the
key to creating identity and determine several aspects of their lives (Tudor, 2014).
Racial diversity and specification are very prominent in many parts of the world. Race is
a very common feature for the society. People subconsciously make their decisions and choices
based on their cultural thoughts, traditions and beliefs, which even lead to discriminations within
the society (Hesmondhalgh and Saha, 2013). People tend to have preferences based on their
culture, ethnicity and race and classify others based on the same. There are many ideas,
prejudices and stereotypes which are permeated by culture. However, multicultural society is
created by these subtle differences which are present in one culture to another, which help create
the distinction.
Since childhood, we get to learn about these cultural norms, traditions, which a child
learns about and shapes how they become as a person. These determine the kind of responses
they develop towards the people. People, thus, tend to find a belongingness in the society, where

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they connect with their own cultural norms and beliefs (Lee, 2015). This has also been very
crucial for how domination and discrimination has followed in society. Culture and race, thus,
have contributed to created history and inequality in the context of society.
Race is very much based on how people are categorized based on external characteristics
which has even created difference among people. This has also created obsession with race and
distinction with people. The geographic roots, ethnic backgrounds play a very important role.
Race, thus is definitive in nature and even give rise to social tendencies which affect culture and
create inflexibility while people look at people of other races with condescension and scorn
(Hesmondhalgh and Saha, 2013). Even though it is necessary to develop a scientific grouping of
people based on their characteristics, however, this also gives rise to negative connotations
I have encountered racial and discriminations in high school and many other places. My
experience at high school was very impactful as it helped me learn about the power and might of
race and culture and how it can shape people’s experiences and lives. United States has
witnessed immigration and amalgamation of culture which brings together people from various
cultures as well as race. This integration is beautiful as well as very challenging for some, as they
experience negative attitudes from people (Fernando, 2014). I became friends with a boy who
spoke English which was not very precise and skin color darker than the average Americans. He
had issues mingling with the culture, which is very progressive, so to say. However, people were
not as inclusive and accommodative towards his beliefs and values, even though he practiced and
preached them personally. He was subjected to immense scorn and bullying. His experiences
shaped his identity as well as me as person as I battled them along with him, as a friend.
The cultural connotations are indeed very negative at times at destroy people’s self
esteem (Lee, 2015). The differences are not respected while they are made to feel inferior. The

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majority population in many places are hostile towards the minority population, which was
similar to what my friend experienced while he was not welcomed by others wholeheartedly. I
realized that it is very important to be kind and compassionate, which is the basic human instinct,
rather than being divided based on cultural and racial differences.
It can thus be concluded by saying that culture and race are very strong and dominant
forces in society, which still preserve the thoughts and beliefs. It is important to note that these
thoughts and beliefs do not take shape of prejudices which make people feel marginalized and
rather celebrate the differences and learn about other cultures and their practices, which make
them beautiful and diverse.

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References
Fernando, S. (2014). Race and culture in psychiatry (Psychology Revivals). Routledge.
Hesmondhalgh, D., & Saha, A. (2013). Race, ethnicity, and cultural production. Popular
Communication, 11(3), 179-195.
Lee, E. (2015). Doing culture, doing race: Everyday discourses of ‘culture’and ‘cultural
difference’in the English as a second language classroom. Journal of Multilingual and
Multicultural Development, 36(1), 80-93.
Spencer, S. (2014). Race and ethnicity: Culture, identity and representation. Routledge.
Tudor, L. (2014). The Philosophy of Identity: Ethnicity, Culture and Race in Identitarian
Thought. Occidental Quarterly, 14(3), 83-112.