Which term refers to supposed biological differences between different groups of people?

Which term refers to supposed biological differences between different groups of people?

• A. Ethnicity
• B. Race
• C. Culture
• D. Species

Answer: (B)

Think about how people have been grouped by supposed biological differences. The term that captures those kinds of divisions is race. It’s the label that has historically been used to claim there are distinct biological differences between groups of people. In sociology, though, we recognize that these distinctions are socially constructed and that genetic variation among humans doesn’t map neatly onto racial categories. Ethnicity relates to cultural factors like language, heritage, and customs, not biology. Culture means shared beliefs, values, and practices. Species would refer to different living organisms, not how humans are categorized socially. So, the term for supposed biological differences between groups of people is race.

Think about how people have been grouped by supposed biological differences. The term that captures those kinds of divisions is race. It’s the label that has historically been used to claim there are distinct biological differences between groups of people. In sociology, though, we recognize that these distinctions are socially constructed and that genetic variation among humans doesn’t map neatly onto racial categories. Ethnicity relates to cultural factors like language, heritage, and customs, not biology. Culture means shared beliefs, values, and practices. Species would refer to different living organisms, not how humans are categorized socially. So, the term for supposed biological differences between groups of people is race.