Ethnic Relations, ROBERT WONSER LESSON 1: THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF REALITY

THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF REALITY Reality is constructed socially. Reify – to make real social construction, that is, it is an idea created by humans (i.e. doesn't exist in the biological world but only in the social world) through social interaction and given a reality through our understanding of it and our collective actions. Does California exist empirically?

THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF REALITY Social Constructions matter because they are the basis for inequality.

RACE Race as we know it is a social construction. It exists not in the biological world but in the social world. Race and ethnicity are social constructions. They are defined and maintained through interaction. They do not exist biologically. They are reifications, social constructions.

RACE AND ETHNICITY Race is a socially defined category, based on real or perceived biological differences between groups of people. Ethnicity is a socially defined category based on common language, religion, nationality, history, or another cultural factor.

RACE MATTERS The black unemploy ment rate has consistentl y been twice as high as the white unemploy ment rate for 50 years:

RACE MATTERS

GAP IN HOUSEHOLD INCOME HASN’T REALLY NARROWED IN 50 YEARS

GREAT RECESSION MADE THE GAP WORSE:

BLACK CHILDREN ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN CONCENTRATED AREAS OF POVERTY

DESEGREGATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS HALTED IN 1980

BLACKS ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE UNINSURED THAN WHITES