True confessions of Ethnicity
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True confessions of Ethnicity
The race is a biological concept that refers to the classification based on the physical and structural characteristics of the species.
Ethnicity is a broader term referring to cultural background nationality, religion, and language.
There are up to three hundred races without many genetical differences. Hence, the concept of race is imprecise and subject to understanding development principles. To understand similarities and differences among various ethnic, cultural and racial groups such as orientation towards individualism and collectivism, socioeconomic and gender differences.
For example, discrimination based on skin colour and gender is very common in a racial society. But when these two combine, it can be a huge hindrance to the development of the entire society, In the early 20th century coloured women would experience occupational and economic disadvantage, motherhood penalties, gender discrimination and occupational segregation would cause women to make 79 cents for every dollar men earned. This gap widened further for black women who would get 64 cents for a dollar versus Latinas earning a dismal 54 cents. The experience by Asian- American women is no different.
Though the laws have been amended to provide equal opportunities for all races, especially women, the implementation by the companies is still questionable. The affirmative action policies put into the marketplace have generated new opportunities for women, but it has disproportionately benefited either a class or colour of women. Though every woman faces challenges to get into a profession dominated by men, racism creates specific unique challenges for women of colour. They are too easily ignored with broad platitudes that seek to advance women’s representations without questioning which women are most likely to benefit.
Adia Harvey Wingfield, a professor of Sociology at Washington University at St. Louis in her book, titled “Flatlining: Race, work, and health care in the New Economy”, narrates, a scenario in which someone visits a hospital, a healthcare profession dominated by men and when a patient sees black women doctors, the picture they create in their head is not of a doctor, but a nurse. So, even though black woman doctors, have achieved the same level of qualifications, their tune thought of society, of gender and colour discrimination still impacts their life. As the doctors described, if you are a male, you will be referred to as a doctor, if you are a female, you will be referred to as a nurse most of the time, irrespective of your race.
For societal development, it is important to understand the factors which define race and we need to work on each of those to reduce discrimination and create an equalised society.
References:
Development across life span by Robert Feldman and Nandita Basu.
Prarthana Singh