What is the difference between ethnicity and racism

Ethnicity refers to markers acquired from the group with which one shares cultural, traditional, and familial bonds. When filling out an application or legal form, you might be asked what race , in addition to what ethnicity , you identify with. While mechanically checking off the boxes or writing in your responses, you might momentarily stop and wonder, "What's the official difference?

The concept of 'ethnicity' contrasts with that of 'race' in that it is concerned with group cultural identity or expression whereas 'race' focuses on physical and biogenetic traits. The word race on the form refers to the group or groups that you may identify with as having similar physical traits that are regarded as common among people of a shared ancestry, or as stated by The United States Census Bureau :.

First, the [ US Census] question [about race] is based on how you identify. Second, the race categories generally reflect social definitions in the U. We recognize that the race categories include racial and national origins and sociocultural groups. In the past, race often referred to the group with which you share a similar cultural background, language, religion, or geographical origin.

The Yorkshire type had always been the strongest of the British strains; the Norwegian and the Dane were a different race from the Saxon. This homograph of race starts being applied in the 16th century but as a word for a group sharing a common lineage or for descendants of a common ancestor.

This forest was adjacent to the chief haunts of the MacGregors, or a particular race of them, known by the title of MacEagh…. The homograph referring to a contest or competition had a head start. What is the difference between race and ethnicity?

While race and ethnicity share an ideology of common ancestry, they differ in several ways. First of all, race is primarily unitary. You can only have one race, while you can claim multiple ethnic affiliations. You can identify ethnically as Irish and Polish, but you have to be essentially either black or white. The fundamental difference is that race is socially imposed and hierarchical. There is an inequality built into the system.

Furthermore, you have no control over your race; it's how you're perceived by others. For example, I have a friend who was born in Korea to Korean parents, but as an infant, she was adopted by an Italian family in Italy. Ethnically, she feels Italian: she eats Italian food, she speaks Italian, she knows Italian history and culture. She knows nothing about Korean history and culture. But when she comes to the United States, she's treated racially as Asian. I think most people associate race with biology and ethnicity with culture.

It's important to stress the culture and language part of it. Ethnicity isn't just a question of affiliation; it's also a question of choice. It's also a question of group membership. And it's usually associated with a geographic region. Many people find their race to be inherently tied to their ethnicity , even though their appearance may not be specific to their personal nationality.

So, is there a difference between race and ethnicity? The short answer? Use of the words overlap and are very historical and often personal. But very generally speaking, the word race involves shared physical characteristics, especially skin color, and a shared ancestry or historical experience based on that, whereas ethnicity involves shared cultural or national identity, which may include language, nationality, religion, or other customs.

Alyssa Pereira is a freelance writer in San Francisco, California. Her work has been featured on SFGate. Feedback See Today's Synonym. Word of the Day. Meanings Meanings. Next Nazi vs. What is race? Visit the informative About This Word section in our entry for racism to get a deeper look into the meaning and impact of the word.

What is ethnicity? Where does ethnicity come from? Get Dictionary. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.