Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.

2026-02-04T23:05:23Z

Article written and Venn diagram created.

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== Differences between ethnicity and race ==
The terms race and ethnicity are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different concepts.<ref name="ref1" /> Race is a social construct that groups people based on perceived shared physical traits.<ref name="ref2" /> Ethnicity, on the other hand, is a term for a group of people who identify with each other based on a shared culture.<ref name="ref3" /> This can include a common language, ancestry, religion, or history.<ref name="ref2" /><ref name="ref3" /> While race is often seen as something based on biology, it is not a biological category. It is a social construct that has been used to create social hierarchies.<ref name="ref4" /> Ethnicity is also a social construct, but it is one that people can choose to identify with.<ref name="ref5" />

=== Comparison Table ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Category !! Race !! Ethnicity
|-
| '''Basis''' || Socially constructed category based on perceived physical characteristics like skin color and facial features.<ref name="ref2" /> || Based on shared cultural factors such as language, ancestry, religion, and national origin.
|-
| '''Nature''' || Often externally imposed by society. || Generally involves self-identification and a sense of belonging to a group.<ref name="ref5" />
|-
| '''Flexibility''' || Considered a less fluid category that is difficult for an individual to change. || More fluid; an individual's ethnic identity can change over time through assimilation or acculturation.<ref name="ref3" />
|-
| '''Connection''' || Not based on genetics. || Can be associated with a shared ancestral or geographic origin.
|-
| '''Example''' || A person may be identified as Black, White, or Asian. || A person may identify as Irish, Japanese, or Nigerian.
|}

[[File:Venn_diagram_Differences_between_Ethnicity-_versus_Race_comparison.png|thumb|center|800px|alt=Venn diagram for Differences between Ethnicity- and Race|Venn diagram comparing Differences between Ethnicity- and Race]]

While the two concepts are distinct, they can overlap. An individual's race and ethnicity can be the same, or they can be different. For example, a person may be racially identified as White and have an Irish ethnicity. Or, a person could be racially identified as Black and have a Jamaican ethnicity. Both race and ethnicity have been used to categorize and, at times, divide people.<ref name="ref5" /> The meanings and importance of race and ethnicity can also change depending on the social and historical context.<ref name="ref4" />

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="ref1">[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK24684/ "nih.gov"]. Retrieved February 04, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref2">[https://www.apa.org/topics/race-ethnicity "apa.org"]. Retrieved February 04, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref3">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicity "wikipedia.org"]. Retrieved February 04, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref4">[https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10389293/ "nih.gov"]. Retrieved February 04, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref5">[https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Race "genome.gov"]. Retrieved February 04, 2026.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Differences between Ethnicity- and Race - Revision history

Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.