Every society consists of people from different families, ethnic groups, and races. This makes society very diverse and unique. Ethnicity •Ethnicity refers to a group of people, also called the ethnic group, who have a common or shared culture, language, history, religion, and tradition. •Here, people are divided into groups based on different social factors. Examples: Filipinos, Malays, Anglo-Saxons, and Muslims. Race •Race refers to a group of people that shares the same physical attributes, such as skin color, height, and facial features. •People are grouped into different races based on their physical appearance. •Human beings are classified into three major racesCaucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid. •These classifications are based on the color of the skin, the shape of the face and eyes, texture of the hair, and other prominent physical features.
Two people belonging to the same race may be part of
different ethnic groups. For example, Asians belong to the Mongoloid race but consists of different ethnic groups like the Japanese, the Chinese, and the Malays. They all share the same physical features but have different cultures, histories, and languages. Ethnolinguistic Groups in the Philippines
There are more than 180 ethnic or ethnolinguistic groups in
the Philippines, which are based on the language each group uses. •There are eight major ethnolinguistic groups in the country: • Ilokano, • Kapampangan, • Pangasinense, • Tagalog, • Bikolano, • Ilonggo, • Cebuano, and • Waray. •Other smaller ethnolinguistic groups are the Ibanag, Ivatan, Sambal, Subanon, Maguindanaoan, and Zamboangueño. There are also indigenous groups in the country that may belong to the same ethnolingguistic groups, but have different cultures or traditions. Some of them are the Mangyans of Mindoro, the Igorots of the Mountain Province, and the Moros of Mindanao. Issues About Race and Ethnicity Ethnicity and race are categories that divide people based on their social affinities or physical similarities. However, differences in ethnicity and race make some people believe that one ethnic group is superior than others. This belief creates discrimination and prejudice against people from minorities who are perceived to be of “inferior” ethnicity or race. There are different types of discrimination against one’s ethnicity or race. Racism •Racism is discrimination or prejudice based on one’s race. •In the 1970s, white Americans (Caucasoids) discriminated black Americans (Negroids) who were descendants of immigrants from African countries. Ethnocentricism •Ethnocentrism is discrimination or prejudice based on one’s culture. •Recently, Muslim extremists discriminate Christians and non- Muslims in Muslim countries because of their religion. •In the Philippines, Muslims experience prejudice and discrimination in Christian-dominated regions like Metro Manila. Because of the ongoing conflict in Mindanao between the government and Islamic militants, Christians tend to think that all Muslims are terrorists. •On the other hand, some Christians and ethnic groups are discriminated and prejudiced against in Muslim-dominated areas. Discrimination against one’s race or culture may cause crimes against it. Genocide •Genocide is the elimination of a group of people from the same race, ethnic group, religion, or nation. •It is an extreme action against people from another ethnicity or race. •The Holocaust during the World War II, executed by the Nazis of Germany led by Adolf Hitler, killed millions of Jews all over Europe. Ethnic cleansing •Ethnic cleansing is the harassment, rape, or forced migration of an ethnic group to banish them from a certain area or territory. •This happens in certain areas in Africa. QUIZ- ETHNICITY 1. What is the category of people with shared cultural attributes? a. culture b. ethnicity c. gender d. race 2. What is the category of people with shared cultural attributes? a. culture b. ethnicity c. gender d. race 3. What is the discrimination or prejudice against another’s race? a. racism b. genocide c. bullying d. ethnocentrism 4. Lolita is Tagalog. Her favorite food is fried pork chop. She hates her cousin, Ainah, who is Muslim, because she does not eat pork. What concept is shown in this example? a. ethnocentrism b. ethnic cleansing c. racism d. genocide 5.Joaquin is Spanish. He was born in Spain and was brought by his parents to the Philippines. His parents forbade him to play with Ramon, an Filipino, and Mei, a Chinese, because they are not Spanish. What concept is shown in this example? a. genocide b. ethnic cleansing c. ethnocentrism d. racism