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Genetic Bio-Ancestry and Social Construction of Racial Classification in Social Surveys in the Contemporary United States

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  • Guang Guo
  • Yilan Fu
  • Hedwig Lee
  • Tianji Cai
  • Kathleen Mullan Harris
  • Yi Li

Abstract

Self-reported race is generally considered the basis for racial classification in social surveys, including the U.S. census. Drawing on recent advances in human molecular genetics and social science perspectives of socially constructed race, our study takes into account both genetic bio-ancestry and social context in understanding racial classification. This article accomplishes two objectives. First, our research establishes geographic genetic bio-ancestry as a component of racial classification. Second, it shows how social forces trump biology in racial classification and/or how social context interacts with bio-ancestry in shaping racial classification. The findings were replicated in two racially and ethnically diverse data sets: the College Roommate Study (N=2,065) and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=2,281). Copyright Population Association of America 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Guang Guo & Yilan Fu & Hedwig Lee & Tianji Cai & Kathleen Mullan Harris & Yi Li, 2014. "Genetic Bio-Ancestry and Social Construction of Racial Classification in Social Surveys in the Contemporary United States," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(1), pages 141-172, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:demogr:v:51:y:2014:i:1:p:141-172
    DOI: 10.1007/s13524-013-0242-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Barnes, J.C., 2018. "A constructivist view of race in modern criminology," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 81-86.
    2. Philip N. Cohen, 2015. "How Troubling Is Our Inheritance? A Review of Genetics and Race in the Social Sciences," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 661(1), pages 65-84, September.
    3. Reanne Frank, 2014. "The Molecular Reinscription of Race: A Comment on “Genetic Bio-Ancestry and Social Construction of Racial Classification in Social Surveys in the Contemporary United States”," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(6), pages 2333-2336, December.
    4. Jennifer Hochschild & Maya Sen, 2015. "Genetic Determinism, Technology Optimism, and Race," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 661(1), pages 160-180, September.
    5. Carolyn A. Liebler & Sonya R. Porter & Leticia E. Fernandez & James M. Noon & Sharon R. Ennis, 2017. "America’s Churning Races: Race and Ethnicity Response Changes Between Census 2000 and the 2010 Census," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(1), pages 259-284, February.
    6. Tukufu Zuberi & Evelyn J. Patterson & Quincy Thomas Stewart, 2015. "Race, Methodology, and Social Construction in the Genomic Era," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 661(1), pages 109-127, September.
    7. Carolyn A. Lieble & Sonya Rastogi & Leticia E. Fernandez & James M. Noon & Sharon R. Ennis, 2014. "America’s Churning Races: Race and Ethnic Response Changes between Census 2000 and the 2010 Census," CARRA Working Papers 2014-09, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    8. Guang Guo & Yilan Fu & Hedwig Lee & Tianji Cai & Yi Li & Kathleen Harris, 2014. "Recognizing a Small Amount of Superficial Genetic Differences Across African, European and Asian Americans Helps Understand Social Construction of Race," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(6), pages 2337-2342, December.

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