Race/Ethnicity - Diversity & Inclusion Student Commons (DISC)

An individual’s social identity indicates who they are in terms of the groups to which they belong. Social identity groups are usually defined by some physical, social, and mental characteristics of individuals. Examples of social identities are race/ethnicity, gender, social class/socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, (dis)abilities, and religion/religious beliefs.

Race is a socially constructed concept that refers to groups of people who are categorized by physical characteristics (e.g., skin color/complexion, facial features). Individuals may racially identify with a single race or as bi- or multiracial. It is important to note racial groups are not monoliths and that the significance and meaning of race varies across individuals within each racial group.

Ethnicity, a related socially-constructed concept often used interchangeably with race, refers to a group individuals who share characteristics such as ancestry/heritage, country of origin, language, religion, forms of dress, and food.

--From Northwestern University's Searle Center for Advanced Teaching & Learning