The idea of a social construct, does not necessarily mean that a phenomenon is not real. What it does mean is that although something does not necessarily exist in an empirical sense, there is nevertheless a consensus regarding its existence. In other words, society makes a phenomenon real by how it is perceived and by the actions of social actors. For example, families are real. However, a family is not something you expect to trip over, whilst walking along the High Street. We construct the meaning of what constitutes a family, and it is that consensus which informs our understanding of what a family actually is. Therefore, the family has an ontological reality, as society gives meaning to things that ‘exist out there’, which are not always material and physically tangible.
The concept of race is also a social construct: another example of an ontological reality. Scientific evidence reveals that at the level of the genome, human beings are more biologically similar than any other species on earth. Moreover, there can be more genotype variance within groups who classify themselves as being physically similar, than those who appear different due to the colour of their skin. As such, the concept of race has no scientific basis. However, racism – i.e. the consequences of actions informed by the perception that races exist – is nevertheless real.
Certain ideas regarding identity, belonging, inclusion and exclusion are socially constructed around meanings attached to variances in phenotype differences. Skin colour to some extent is also a signifier of cultural differences, just as ethnicity is often accepted as a pseudonym for race. In capitalist societies, race cannot be examined in isolation of the power relationships that exist between dominant and subjugated racial groups. As such, the consequences of racism are real and therefore have measurable impacts. Disparities in relationships of power between ethnic groups can be distinguished by measuring variances in the treatment of racialised minorities over time and space. This is especially in terms of analysing ethnic differences in their access to life-changing resources such as education, employment, housing and health. It is in this way that patterns and trends in the effects of racism can be reliably measured and, the validity of its detrimental impacts on racialised groups in society, can be seen to be real.
Comment on the above blog by posting your responses to the questions below:
- Has science got it wrong and is the concept of race real?
- Identify a UK legislation [i.e. an Act of Law] or policy that reinforces the reality of race.
- Explain how the idea of hierarchies in the social order is normalised by the social construction of the nuclear family. Now apply the same ‘logic’ to the concept of racial groups, to explain how racial hierarchies are normalised and to some extent accepted in society.
