Ethnicity/Race

Race refers to categories defined by phenotypes, physical or visual markers, that have been afforded significance over time. In contrast, ethnicity refers to groups defined by their shared history, cultural beliefs, rituals, and practices. Both race and ethnicity are socially constructed categories that serve as a basis of group membership. In terms of differences, racial categories are less malleable over time, and race, unlike ethnicity, is often defined externally, leaving less room for subjective conceptualizations. For convenience, race and ethnicity are used interchangeably in this entry.

The divergence of racial minorities' preferences and practices from that of the majority groups' is often explained as evidence of a subculture, their taste and traditions being rooted in cultural practices different from that of the majority group. But to ...