Race, ethnicity, and nationality
By Di, February 07 2024The words race, ethnicity and nationality are often misunderstood or even used interchangeably. They mean very different things, however.
Race refers to physical features, ethnicity points to cultural background, and nationality is all about the country you are from. In countries like Japan, the three things are closely linked. But in a place like the U.S., where people come from many different places and backgrounds, they are completely separate.
Let's look at how I fit into them.
Race
I have light-colored skin, which puts me in the Caucasian category, or White. The concept of race, however, based on the belief that physical appearance is related to a person's skills and character, has no scientific evidence. Studies show that there's no significant genetic difference between anyone in the world.