Race as Genetics vs Social Construct

[TheWhiteBull]

Moving a conversation that started in another thread here.

Merriam-Webster includes both "shared physical characteristics", "same stock", and "shared interests, habits, and characteristics" in its definition. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/race

I think most sane people will agree that it is a combination of genetics/phenotype/cultural upbringing that determines one race so I don't want to really make this thread so much as how everybody thinks others/the general population views race.

Personally I think that examples like Rachel Dolezal and tribal Freedmen controversies show just how much people still associate race with genetics and looks.

 

[hsnh]

Could you provide the link to the thread?

For non- regular posters.

 

[Rose4Emily]

Although "I think most people still associate race with things like skin color and genetics," anyone knowledgeable on the issue knows better. There is more genetic diversity in a single band of bonobos than there is in the entire human race (which is the only race we should recognize)!

 

[Freudian_Slit]

When referring of humans, it is probably more advisable to speak of ethnicities than of races. Geneticists deny there are such things as human races, as humans among any society lack the genetic diversity to quality. (If I remember correctly, for two populations to be considered distinct races, there must be no more than 85% overlap, genetically.) The physical diversity we see across the globe is mostly superficial; humans are just too young a species, and have experienced genetic bottlenecks too recently, to have bona fide subspecies.

 

[TheWhiteBull]

Although "I think most people still associate race with things like skin color and genetics," anyone knowledgeable on the issue knows better. There is more genetic diversity in a single band of bonobos than there is in the entire human race (which is the only race we should recognize)!

That's what I was getting at when I said most sane people will understand that they are a combination of the two. Unfortunately though you seem to have the same opinion as I do on the general populace's intelligence.

Could you provide the link to the thread?

For non- regular posters.

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1442894

It was supposed to be a thread about BDSM but was starting to kind of get hijacked.

 

[TheWhiteBull]

When referring of humans, it is probably more advisable to speak of ethnicities than of races. Geneticists deny there are such things as human races, as humans among any society lack the genetic diversity to quality. (If I remember correctly, for two populations to be considered distinct races, there must be no more than 85% overlap, genetically.) The physical diversity we see across the globe is mostly superficial; humans are just too young a species, and have experienced genetic bottlenecks too recently, to have bona fide subspecies.

If we were having a scientific discussion of human genetic diversity I would agree. The conversation however is about public opinion and discourse, which includes the term race.

 

[Chris_Michael]

I think most people just view race as a tool to push whatever narrative they're pushing.

 

[TheWhiteBull]

I think most people just view race as a tool to push whatever narrative they're pushing.

While I agree that many use it that way, I disagree. Speaking as someone of mixed heritage with relatives of several different backgrounds ethnicity and race can play a large personal role in people's lives and worldviews.

 

[hsnh]

According to this website:
www.diffen.com/difference/Ethnicity_vs_Race
"The traditional definition of race and ethnicity is related to biological and sociological factors respectively.
- Race refers to a person's physical characteristics, such as bone structure and skin, hair, or eye color.
- Ethnicity, however, refers to cultural factors, including nationality, regional culture, ancestry, and language."


Regardless of term used,
- I think viewing race/ ethnicity from a strictly biological vantage point is paramount in medicine and other "hard" sciences.
- In social sciences: biology + cultural factors.
The danger arises only when people from either two disciplines try to meddle into the other.

 

[Chris_Michael]

While I agree that many use it that way, I disagree. Speaking as someone of mixed heritage with relatives of several different backgrounds ethnicity and race can play a large personal role in people's lives and worldviews.

I think you bust a few moves on Rose4Emily to convince her that we need more evidence of her race so that we can really put her post in the proper context. It's for a better world that we understand and appreciate women along with their race.

 

[AnAmericanDarling]

Although "I think most people still associate race with things like skin color and genetics," anyone knowledgeable on the issue knows better. There is more genetic diversity in a single band of bonobos than there is in the entire human race (which is the only race we should recognize)!

That's what I voted for - "I think most people still associate race with things like skin color and genetics". I would also say cultural background and religious background mixes in with that, but then of course we can't all take trashy, nude photos of ourselves on the internet.