NAME : VETHASHRI NARASINGAM

MATRIC NO : DB180065
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF RACE AND ETHNICITY ?

“Race” refers to physical differences that groups and cultures consider socially significant,
while “ethnicity” refers to shared culture, such as language, ancestry, practices, and beliefs.
Sociology uses and critiques the concepts of race and ethnicity, connecting them to the idea of
majority and minority groups and social structures of inequality, power, and stratification.

Race

Let’s start first with race, which refers to a category of people who share certain inherited
physical characteristics, such as skin color, facial features, and stature. A key question about
race is whether it is more of a biological category or a social category. Most people think of
race in biological terms, and for more than 300 years, or ever since white Europeans began
colonizing populations of color elsewhere in the world, race has indeed served as the “premier
source of human identity” (Smedley, 1998, p. 690).

Ethnicity

Because of the problems in the meaning of race, many social scientists prefer the
term ethnicity in speaking of people of color and others with distinctive cultural heritages. In
this context, ethnicity refers to the shared social, cultural, and historical experiences, stemming
from common national or regional backgrounds, that make subgroups of a population different
from one another. Similarly, an ethnic group is a subgroup of a population with a set of shared
social, cultural, and historical experiences; with relatively distinctive beliefs, values, and
behaviors; and with some sense of identity of belonging to the subgroup. So conceived, the
terms ethnicity and ethnic group avoid the biological connotations of the terms race and racial
group and the biological differences these terms imply. At the same time, the importance we
attach to ethnicity illustrates that it, too, is in many ways a social construction, and our ethnic
membership thus has important consequences for how we are treated.
NAME : VETHASHRI NARASINGAM
MATRIC NO : DB180065
HOW DOES IT DIFFER ?

Race and ethnicity are used to categorize certain sections of the population. In basic terms, race
describes physical traits, and ethnicity refers to cultural identification. Race may also be
identified as something you inherit while ethnicity is something you learn. Race and ethnicity
are typically misunderstood as most people often don’t fit into neat categories that are offered
on forms with checkboxes. We don’t necessarily have any tests or scientific basis to separate
people out; people are able to self-identify.
NAME : VETHASHRI NARASINGAM
MATRIC NO : DB180065
WHAT ARE THE EXAMPLES IN MALAYSIA CONTEXT?

Malaysians are nationals and citizens who are identified with the country of Malaysia.
Although citizens make up the majority of Malaysians, non-citizen residents and overseas
Malaysians may also claim a Malaysian identity.

The country is home to people of various national, ethnic and religious origins. As a result,
many Malaysians do not equate their nationality with ethnicity, but with citizenship and
allegiance to Malaysia. Majority of the population, however, belong to several clearly defined
'racial' groups within the country with their own distinct cultures and traditions: Malays,
Orang Asli (aboriginal population), Malaysian Chinese (primarily Han Chinese), Malaysian
Indians (primarily Tamils). The majority of the non-Malay and non-aboriginal population in
modern Malaysia is made up of immigrants and their descendants. Following the initial period
of Portuguese, Dutch and then significantly longer British colonisation, different waves (or
peaks) of immigration and settlement of non-aboriginal peoples took place over the course
of nearly five centuries and continue today.
NAME : VETHASHRI NARASINGAM
MATRIC NO : DB180065
WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION ON SOCIETY ?

Ethnic and racial identities are important for many young people, particularly those who
are members of minority groups. These dimensions of the self may instill feelings of:
• Belonging to a particular group or groups
• Identification with that group; shared commitment and values
Ethnic identity develops in adolescence and is passed from one generation to the next
through customs, traditions, language, religious practice, and cultural values. Our ethnic and
racial identities are also influenced by the popular media, literature, and current events.

Ethnic identity may play a larger role among minority youth because they experience the
contrasting and dominant culture of the majority ethnic group. Youth who belong to the
majority ethnic culture may not even recognize or acknowledge their ethnic identity.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT MIXED RACE ?

A closeness of cross ethnic friendship will reduce prejudice between ethnic groups . According
to Yusof (2006), cross ethnic friendships are more common in schools with students from
various ethnic groups. Most of the research on cross ethnic friendship have explained about an
effect of closeness in cross ethnic friendships. Research conducted in four European countries
have shown that the majority ethnic who build a cross ethnic friendships with minorities exhibit
a reduction in bias against ethnic minorities .

Based on the study of the relationship between different ethnic groups, it consistently shows
that the relations between ethnic groups can be positively managed to reduce prejudice against
friends from different ethnic groups. For example, respondents from ethnic majority in
Germany, France, Netherlands and United Kingdom who have a good friends from minority
ethnic groups were reported not only have lower prejudice against their friends but also
diminish in prejudice against other minority ethnic groups as well . Based on a study conducted
on more than 1,000 senior students at the University of Michigan, it was found that seniors
who have more contact with students from different ethnic groups, have more close friends
from other ethnic groups and those who have more interaction with colleagues from other
ethnic groups were reported to have more intellectual engagement, critical thinking and support
the diversity exist among them.
NAME : VETHASHRI NARASINGAM
MATRIC NO : DB180065
Cross ethnic friendship is a complex process but certainly it would be benefit for the students
in a positive way. Students could develop more positive attitudes toward intergroup interaction
such as they would be more comfortable to mix around with friends of different ethnic
background. It also develops a strong sense of empathy and caring for others . This would
create a harmonious and balance social interaction whereby everyone is included in the group.
It will lead to low the level of conflict among students. In terms of psychological aspect,
students would feel safe and less victimized by peers . According to a study conducted by
Hamm (2000), he found that by having a cross ethnic friendship, it also have been associated
with having high scores on the importance and positive perception to any other ethnic group.