'The Social Construction Of Race'

1597 Words7 Pages
In the history we have studied so far gender, race and violence have been some of the more major themes as well as a connection in events around those themes connecting more current events and passed events. Gender and race in the sources we studied are described as social constructs that are greatly enforced on those who identify in certain ways only because some act in that way. In these themes violence has been seen as both a connection between gender and race as themes or its own theme seen through the actions mainly done by governments. These themes are central to the study of history especially since they are interconnected as well as displayed both in more recent times and prior times not always with that much change in actions or results.…show more content…
In “The Social Construction of Race,” Ian F. Haney López sees race as having an impact on societal formations and constructions. Race, like gender, seems to be enacting an inclination to be some certain way in society that goes unchallenged because of fear of what could come as a result of it. López in the article sees race not as a born this but something determined later by human beings as means to divide those within society (54). I agree with López’s view of race being a social construct that is used to divide society for reasons that are not always the most logical. However, in society this construct does not actually have much backing because there is no biological evidence or much other evidence that could support this being a construct. Race enacts societal influences forcing minorities into categories and behaviors that only some of a certain minority participates in, but impact minorities one in the same. Constructs formed around race, like societal laws and rules, have been occurring for centuries from slavery to Jim Crow to convict leasing and mass incarceration. In The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander focuses on race and how the societal implications surrounding race are not disappearing but are evolving. Alexander cites how different policies have been aimed at minorities “unintentionally” to show how society can be made better for them while actually making life worse for minorities, who are the ones most greatly affected. Alexander seems to see that these reforms are meant as a part of a new social construct with affects not as harsh, but not much better generally as the affects of the old Jim Crow era. Granted there are not the same sorts of violent acts enacted against minorities as in the past like in the era of old Jim Crow or slavery, but there is still social demotion because of what the expectations are around the actions made

More about 'The Social Construction Of Race'

Open Document