LHILAL - ANTHRO1022 Assignment 1- Response Template

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Anthro 1022 ANTHRO1022 Assignment 1 – Variation, Race, and Racism Response Template Student Name: Lubna Hilal Remember to upload this template as a Word document (do not convert to Pages or PDF). Part 1: Considering the material this week in lectures, videos, and your readings, write a 300 word (+/- 10%) reflection that answers one of the following questions: 1. How does our current knowledge of human variation inform our understanding of “race”, and what is problematic about the concept? 2. The authors of the AAPA statement on Race and Racism wrote “while ‘race’ is not biology, racism does affect our biology”. What do they mean by this? Use examples of human variation in your answer. I have responded to question: 2 Enter response here The AAPA’s “Race and Racism” statement highlights that “while ‘race’ is not biology, racism does affect our biology.”, meaning that the concept of race does not accurately represent human biological variation. The traditional concept of “race” is not rooted in scientific biology, as there is no compelling evidence to suggest the division of humans into racial categories. Human genetic and phenotypic diversity is a result of interactions between genetics, environment, and historical migrations. Traits such as skin colour, hair type, and facial features, is due to environmental influences (e.g. stronger ultraviolet radiation levels causing darker skin colour), and gene flow among populations. While “race” is not a scientific biological concept, research has proved that racism is real and has consequences on human biology. The impact of racism can manifest in various ways, like limited access to healthcare, educational or economic inequalities, and physical and psychological harm; these can lead to chronic stress, which affects one's immune system, cognitive development, and general health. A notable example of racism having an influence on our biology is through dermatology teachings based on light skin, which results in misdiagnoses and inadequate medical care for those with different skin types. For example, Pulse Oximeters (a device used to measure oxygen saturation using light on the skin) has shown inaccuracy for those with darker skin tones. The individuals with more melanin in their skin are three times more likely to have incorrect readings - potentially leading to a misdiagnosis of health issues. This reemphasizes AAPA’s statement that “racism does affect our biology”. Therefore, while the concept of race is not a scientifically valid way to categorise humans, the social construct of race has significant biological impacts on humans. By understanding the harmful consequences of racism in our biology, we can work towards promoting a just society.

Anthro 1022 The total number of words in my response is: 300 Part 2: Choose ONE of the following activities: 1 OR 2 Compose an email to send to your future self which answers the following question: If there is only one thing you could remember, and ensure every person knew about human variation, what would it be? Once you’ve written your message, you can mail it to yourself one year from now at: https://www.futureme.org/ A representative selection of responses will be posted on the OWL site Responses should be 100 words (+/-10%). The best answers will describe a key fact about human variation and make a connection to the reading/videos from this week. Contribute to the Class Plan of Action on Racism. Describe ONE action you could take to help change 1) racist worldviews/attitudes, or 2) health inequalities experienced by minorities. A representative selection of responses will be posted on the OWL site. Responses should be 100 words (+/-10%). The best answers will describe a concrete action (i.e., something that you can achieve), and make a connection to the reading/videos from this week. Enter response here Dear FutureMe, It’s important to remember that 'race' is not a biological reality. The statement, by the AAPA on Race and Racism emphasises that human diversity cannot be neatly categorized based on race, humans are influenced by genetics, environments and migrations. Remember that racism impacts our biology. Systemic racism has effects on society such as healthcare, economics and education. Therefore, medical training often shows biases towards diagnosing conditions in "white" individuals resulting in inequalities in healthcare. Racism has influence on our biology, therefore it's important to continue to challenge biases and advocate for healthcare and education equality. Thank you, Lubna. Enter response here The total number of words in my response is: 100

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