Differences between Ethnicity and Race

Ethnicity and Race

The terms ethnicity and race are often used interchangeably, but the two concepts have distinct meanings. Race is understood by sociologists as a social construct based on superficial physical differences that a society considers significant. Ethnicity involves a shared culture, such as the practices, beliefs, and values of a group. An individual's ethnicity is related to their sense of identity, based on a shared social background and experiences.

Both race and ethnicity are social constructs, meaning they are not based on biological or scientific fact but are concepts created and defined by societies. Historically, attempts were made to categorize humans into different races based on physical characteristics, but modern science has shown there is no biological basis for such divisions. An ethnic group is defined by its members' shared cultural heritage, including common ancestry, language, religion, and traditions. One person can have a racial identity and a separate ethnic identity. For example, a person may be racially identified as Black and have a Nigerian, Haitian, or African-American ethnicity.

Comparison table

Category	Race	Ethnicity
Basis of classification	Based on perceived physical characteristics like skin color and hair texture.	Based on shared cultural factors such as language, ancestry, religion, and traditions.
Source of identity	Often externally imposed by society.	Typically self-identified and based on a connection to a group's shared culture and history.
Nature	A social construct without a biological basis.	A social construct related to shared cultural heritage and experiences.
Flexibility	Generally seen as a fixed category one is born into.	Can be more fluid; individuals can shift or have multiple ethnic identities.
Examples	White, Black, Asian.	Irish-American, Japanese, Jewish, Hutu, Cuban.

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Ethnicity and Race

Social construction

The idea of race as a biological category has been discredited, with sociologists and anthropologists viewing it as a social construct. The way societies define racial categories has changed significantly over time and varies between cultures. For instance, immigrant groups from Europe, including Irish and Italian people, were not always considered "White" in the United States but came to be seen as such through cultural assimilation.

Ethnicity is also a social construct that can change for individuals and groups. The formation of a new ethnic identity is called ethnogenesis. A person's ethnic identity can be layered and relational; an individual might identify with a specific tribal group in one context, a national identity in another, and a broader regional identity in a third. Unlike race, which often implies a social hierarchy, ethnicity does not inherently do so.