How Race Is Socially Constructed Essay

Respond to each question below.

1. Explain how race is socially constructed. Provide evidence that counters a biological explanation for race. Race has been socially constructed throughout history, and it continues to evolve and change as society suggests. The prominent society has created, grouped together, and stereotyped individuals influenced by several factors such as cultural stances, religion, tradition, and the more basic geographical origin, and physical characteristics. It is society that has placed such emphasis on race. When we really stop and think, the world did not start with a divided species of humans. Humans decided to start categorizing, and grouping humans based on various things. Research shows that
man is of but one kind, and not like an animal of several species (Schaefer, R, T. (2006).. Humans have assumed that because people with different skin color, different cultural beliefs, or different ways of thinking that they must be of a different biological race (Schaefer, R, T. (2006). Society has created everything from what foods to eat, what music to listen to, to what they teach their children and future generations about acceptance of each other and passing on racial beliefs. Politicians and people of wealth have been notorious for labeling groups and racial profiling to get the higher up so to speak, or to create justification in the community. Race began simply a categorization of physical biological characteristics such as hair type, shape of the eyes and nose, and skin color (Schaefer, R, T. (2006). White was white, and black was black; then came the categorizing of additional attributes such as afro-textured hair and large noses on African Americans, or olive skin, slanted eyes, and shiny jet black hair in Asians. Biologically speaking there is nothing as simple as black and white. For many, many years people have relocated or traveled all over the world and mingled and procreated with other races which has now mixed traits, and been passed down generation after generation. It seems virtually impossible to truly identify a person’s race, because I find it hard to believe there would be any “purebreds” during this day and age.

2. How has the media contributed to prejudice and discrimination against Asian Americans? How might these problems be remedied?

The media has contributed to the prejudice and discrimination against Asian American in several ways that demonstrate insensitivity and biased reporting.
According to our textbook, the media has had a negative impact on the views of Asian Americans by using inappropriate clichés, mistaken identity, overgeneralization, using ethnic slurs, biased and inflammatory reporting, bashing their native Japan, media invisibility, and even model minority which sets the positive standards of Asian Americans too high (Schaefer, R, T. (2006). Stereotyping them as a “model minority” decreases their chances of acceptance when it comes to social programs, employment, and other social ills (Schaefer, R, T. (2006). Asian Americans are often times viewed as well-educated and successful. Little does society notice that these Asian Americans do not normally hold high corporate positions, rather they are running their small own business and employ their family, taking care of one another as best they can. The media and even entertainment honchos never embrace Asian Americans as athletes or potential celebrities with mainstream roles. Asian Americans are never heard and asked for their input when the media is addressing problems in their community, as well when it comes to issues regarding Asia (Schaefer, R, T.
(2006). These problems of negative portrayal against Asian Americans held by the media can be remedied by first of all overcoming the idea that they are a “model minority” and realize that they work hard, love their families, sought the United States to live the “American Dream” and try to escape poverty. The media can choose their words wisely refraining from any slur words or phrases such as “Asian Invasion” or “Orient Express”. The media should also express the increased population in areas of heavy Asian descent I also believe the media should tell or write stories of influence such as Asian Americans striving in America, working 7 days a week to make ends meet. I think the media should exploit the poverty side of the Asian American community to help decrease the model minority views so they may be eligible for more minority programs.

References
Schaefer, R, T. (2006). Racial and ethnic groups (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.