Brief Discussion of Race, Class and Gender

Race vs. Ethnicity  “It is important to note that race is predominantly a social construct - in other words, scientists have discovered that only 2 percent of our genes are ultimately responsible for the visible differences such as skin color. Although it is not an exact science, social groups play a very important role in defining the rules of race” ( Pizarro-Eckert). social construct Pizarro-Eckertsocial construct Pizarro-Eckert  “Ethnicity (n) a term which represents social groups with a shared history, sense of identity, geography and cultural roots which may occur despite racial difference –Let's consider Puerto Ricans as an example of an ethnicity. Many Puerto Ricans represent various blends of White, Red and/or Black races and yet they refer to themselves collectively as Boricuas” ( Pizarro-Eckert). Pizarro-Eckert

Class  A variable thing, but often sociological definitions are based, in part, on access to resources and wealth.  Definition: “When sociologists talk of social class, they refer to a group of individuals who occupy a similar position in the economic system of production” (Marks)

Gender  Again, as with other definitions, this is variable. Gender seems completely biological, but there are social aspects. (Think about boys playing with “dolls” and girls playing with “toy soldiers.”)  A definition: “Category to which an individual is assigned by self or others, on the basis of sex. Cf.: sex, gender role” (Webmd.com).

How Does this Matter in Music?  It matters because when you look at music, musicians, and the business of music, all three “lenses” help you see things you might miss otherwise.  For instance, look at these lyrics from a classic Led Zeppelin Song, “Black Dog”: “Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move?/Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove” (Plant). –Mama (Race): A word that one often hears in blues music (Robert Johnson: “My mama’s red hot”), and a shout out, probably, by the blues loving men in Led Zeppelin to their Black blues heroes. –“Gonna make you sweat” (Gender): You have a not so oblique reference to a man making a woman “hot.” –“Gonna” (Class): The language here is of working class origins. Gonna is not said by upper crust folks in England or the United States. Robert Plant, the lyricist for Led Zeppelin, is using his home language, and the home language of his Black blues Heroes: the language of the working classes.

How Does this Matter in Music?  When you begin to think about race, class, and sex, music begins to look different.  You’re going to see this when you begin to do your work.

Works Cited Marks, C. “What is Social Class”. Homepage of C. Marks. 21 April class.htmhttp://copland.udel.edu/~cmarks/What%20is%20social%2 0class.htm Pizarro-Eckert, Susan. "Race - Definitions of Key Race Relations Terms“ About.com. 21 April /racedef.htmhttp://racerelations.about.com/od/skillsbuildingresources/g /racedef.htm Plant, Robert. “Black Dog Lyrics.” Lyrics.com. 21 April htmlhttp:// html Webmd.com. “Definition of Gender.” Medical Dictionary 21 April