The Role of “Genetics” in Popular Understandings of Race in the United States

Abstract

The increase in public representation of the science-based concept "genetics" in the mass media might be expected to have a major impact on public understanding of the concept of "race." A model of lay understandings of the role of genetics in the contemporary United States is offered based on focus group research, random digit dial surveys, and community based surveys. That model indicates that lay people identify are primarily by physical features, but these identifications are categorized into a variety of groupings that may be regional, national, or linguistic. Although they believe that physical appearance is caused largely by genetics, and therefore that race has a genetic basis, they do not uniformly conclude, however, that all perceived racial characteristics are genetically based. Instead, they vary in the extent to which they attribute differences to cultural, personal, and genetic factors.

The Ordinary Conception of Race in the United States and Its Relation to Racial Attitudes: A New Approach

“…Representing race as a natural kind is consistent with the idea that race is ordinarily understood mainly in terms of physical attributes, and that one's appearance is a result of one's genetics, as focus group research has found (Condit et al, 2004). And if it is appropriate to categorize descent-based criteria for racial classifi cation as biological, as opposed to social, criteria, then Hirschfeld's study also provides evidence that folk racial thinking is biological.…”

Attitudes on DNA ancestry tests

“…Understanding the attitudes of the public-even those individuals who do not personally obtain or have interest in obtaining the testing-is necessary to tailor messages and communicate genetic information (whether in press releases of scientific research findings, in consumer marketing advertisements, or even in the classroom) in such a way that These talk shows, documentaries, sitcoms, and plays have featured or referenced DNA ancestry tests minimizes opportunities for misunderstanding and misuse (e.g. genism and racism) (See, e.g., Parrott et al 2005;Condit et al 2004). Until now, however, our understanding of individuals' experiences with DNA ancestry testing has been largely limited to personal accounts (e.g.…”

Race of the Future: Mixing of Colors in the United States Leading to One Race?

“…By the 1980s, only 12% of legal immigrants came from Europe or Canada, whereas almost 85% originated from Asia, Latin America, or the Caribbean (U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 2002;Waldinger & Lee, 2001). In the United States, the arrival of Spanish-speaking immigrants since the mid-20th century has significantly changed racial dynamics (Condit et al, 2004). According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census (2000), the 21st century is an era in which race will be radically transformed.…”

“…This identification of race primarily by physical features is usually done by laypeople. Yet what people should realize is that such identifications are classified into a range of groupings that may be regional, national, or linguistic (Condit et al, 2004).…”

“…From this vantage point, scholars ground race in biology, inheritance (Reilly, Kaufman, & Bodino, 2003), and even in genetics per se (Tobach & Rosoff, 1994). Genetics, in particular, has been a major concept associated with this fascination with race (Condit, Parrott, Harris, Lynch, & Dubriwny, 2004). This identification of race primarily by physical features is usually done by laypeople.…”