ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an historical perspective on race and introduces sociological theoretical perspectives for studying racism as a consequence of race diversity in the workforce. Constructionist and structural theories both acknowledge that race and ethnicity are social constructs that shape how people are situated within larger society. The constructionist perspective has been the prevailing notion for studying race and ethnicity in the social sciences. Ethnic identity is a constructionist approach that addresses how ethnic groups are "negotiated, defined and produced through social interaction inside and outside ethnic communities". Racial formation theory suggests that in the United States, race and ethnicity should be understood as constructs of social organization that are politically determined by the state. Racialization is a structural perspective for theorizing race and ethnicity. The theory of oppression is a structural approach that points out how discrimination has been made illegal, yet institutionalized practices such as employment, education, and other practices within the public domain still allow racism.
