Race, Culture and Ethnic Group

Question 0

What is Ethnicity?

Answer 0

• Complex interplay between culture, history, language etc
• Usually defines group where all individuals have the same belief system (usually particular religion) Eg. Catholic
• Max Weber defined ethnicity:
  
  • Human groups that entertain subjective belief in their common descent
  • Memories of colonisation and migration
  • Important for group formation
  • Doesnt matter whether objective blood relationship exists

Question 1

What is Race?

Answer 1

• Human population in which individuals are considered similar due to distinct characteristics (eg. caucasian)
• Most commonly based on visible traits such as skin colour, facial features etc

Question 2

What is Culture?

Answer 2

• The system of shared beliefs, values, attitudes and artefacts that members of society use to cope with their world and with one another
• Transmitted from generation to generation through learning (eg. Irish, Spanish)
• May share similar histories, continent of ancestry and cultural background
• Art, literature and music can contribute to culture