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Will DNA research reinforce prejudice?

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adrian

Posted: November 11, 2007 06:46 pm

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QUOTE

Race, many sociologists and anthropologists have argued for decades, is a social invention historically used to justify prejudice and persecution. But when Samuel M. Richards gave his students at Pennsylvania State University genetic ancestry tests to establish the imprecision of socially constructed racial categories, he found the exercise reinforced them instead.

One white-skinned student, told she was 9 percent West African, went to a Kwanzaa celebration, for instance, but would not dream of going to an Asian cultural event because her DNA did not match, Dr. Richards said. Preconceived notions of race seemed all the more authentic when quantified by DNA.

In DNA Era, New Worries About Prejudice

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"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -- Prof. Dumbledore

Knightshinobi	Posted: November 16, 2007 04:27 am
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 5 Member No.: 20 Joined: January 09, 2007	[If I somehow put my foot in my mouth somewhere, sorry. And also help me pull it out.] I think the only problem in terms of re-identifying oneself due to these genetic tests is if one actually had a fairly... tangible? solid-y?... racial identity already. I myself don't think I would have a problem, because to be honest... I don't exactly belong to a single race. Legally, yes, but not in terms of self-identity.[1] Being Mexican-American myself... I don't really have a fixed racial identity. A genetic test would simply tell me what percentage of the mix is what, but that really doesn't change anything for me. It's still a mix in the end. I can't vouch for anyone with a single racial identity, as I really don't have any idea what that's like. Unfortunately, if people start thinking these differences matter... I will probably be screwed. Even more so than now. ===== Footnotes [1] Apparently, due to the Mexican-American War of 1848 and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are legally 'white', in regards to the US Census. See back of cereal box for details. -------------------- Si vis pacem, para bellum.

ravenranter	Posted: November 16, 2007 01:21 pm
Oldtimer Group: Members Posts: 201 Member No.: 17 Joined: October 09, 2006	i don't have a single racial identity either; i'm predominantly irish with a bit of native american tossed in - there's not a lot of questioning on my part. i can see how someone like my daughter (who has backgrounds from at least four races) might be curious at some stage in her life... i think the biggest form of prejudice to arise from dna research will likely involve health insurance and who will be considered the biggest risk for certain diseases, like cancer.

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