What are the primary problems with the concept of race and what are the social and political implications of using race to define and study groups of people?
Using Brown and Landrum-Brown’s dimensions, describe the dimensions across which cultural characteristics are defined.
Select one of the four cultures describe by M. Ho and compare its cultural characteristics to those of Northern European culture in the following dimensions: nature, time orientation, people relations, work and activity, and human nature. How might these differences manifest themselves in the helping relationship?
Discuss the consequences of the movement from “primitive” to “civilized” culture.
What are the pros and cons of employing an alternative helping model, as opposed to an adaptive or adjusted model?
Historical and Social Construct: The concept was invented and imposed to create a social hierarchy, justify colonialism, slavery, and discrimination. The definitions and number of "races" have changed over time and vary geographically, highlighting their arbitrary nature.
Ambiguity and Overlap: Categories are fluid and inconsistent. For example, a person's "race" is often determined by self-identification or external perception, which can conflict.
Social and Political Implications of Using Race
Social Stratification and Inequality: Race is used to create and maintain social stratification, leading to disparities in wealth, housing, education, and healthcare.
Example (US): In 2022, the median household income for Asian households was $108,700, for White households was $81,060, for Hispanic households was $59,880, and for Black households was $52,860 (US Census Bureau). These disparities are a direct result of historical and systemic racial policies.
Systemic Discrimination: Race is used to enact and enforce policies and practices that are discriminatory, often resulting in racial profiling by law enforcement and bias in hiring or lending.
Political Mobilization and Division: Race is a powerful tool for political mobilization, both to advocate for civil rights and equality and, conversely, to fuel xenophobia and social division.
Misdiagnosis in Health and Research: Relying on race as a biological proxy in medical research and clinical care can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment because it often obscures the true, underlying genetic, social, and environmental causes of disease.
Brown and Landrum-Brown’s Dimensions of Cultural Characteristics
Brown and Landrum-Brown (1995) defined culture across five fundamental dimensions that organize the way people interact with their world:
Sample Answer
The concept of race is problematic primarily because it is a social construct, not a biological reality, and its historical use has led to profound social and political inequalities.
Problems with the Concept of Race and its Implications
Primary Problems with the Concept of Race
Lack of Biological Basis: The most significant problem is that race does not align with human genetics.
Genetic Variation: The vast majority of genetic variation (99.9%) is shared among all human beings. The genetic differences that exist are primarily clinal (gradual) and not confined to distinct racial boundaries.
Arbitrary Grouping: The traits historically used to define races (like skin color) are superficial and controlled by only a few genes. Genetic variation within any given racial group is typically greater than the average difference between racial groups.