Race What Is the Difference

Race

What is the difference between a biological and social view of race?

The biological view of race suggests that the human race is genetically subdivided into categories known as races, all with distinctly different characteristics. The argument in favor of the biological view is rooted in physical appearance, the predisposition of certain diseases and physical qualities amongst certain groups of human beings, and genetic patterns amongst certain groups of human beings not present in other groups of human beings. The social view of race states that race is based upon culture, not upon real, significant genetic differences. In fact, no one, single characteristic, trait or gene distinguishes any human so-called race from another race. There is greater genetic variety between individuals within so-called racial populations than between different categories of human beings.

Different statuses for what constitutes a race have existed throughout human history, as once an ethnic group like the Irish was called a race in the past. Ancient societies divided humanity according to religion, class, language, and status, and subjugation and slavery were based upon military conquests, not a sense of racial superiority. The only reason that race exists is that we as a culture have been taught to notice race, and classify people according to their supposed racial status. Human beings have not been isolated into specific groups for long enough to establish 'pure' races and every person on some level is mixed race, if they go far back enough in their history.

Genes for physical racial differences are actually isolated from one another within every person's DNA, like skin color and hair typed. Race is not even always visible to the eye, although human society has attempted to legislate it into existence, as once upon a time in America, anyone with African-American blood was considered Black, even if they had fairer skin than a Caucasian, and Nazi Germany legislated that anyone possessing a certain portion of Jewish ancestry was a member of the so-called Jewish race. Race exists, suggests the social view, even in the biological categorizations of science, out of cultural customs and habits not reality. Race is a powerful illusion in culture, even amongst certain pockets of the culture of the scientific community, but it is just that -- an illusion and a delusion.

Question

Who has benefited from the belief that we can sort people according to race and that there are natural or biologically-based differences between racial groups?