The section considers whiteness as a social construct with many facets including white privilege and white supremacy. White fragility is also discussed as a lens to understanding why whiteness, white …
Whiteness theory is an offshoot of critical race theory that sees race as a social construct.
Whiteness is a modern, colonial invention. It was devised in the 17th century and used to provide the logic for genocide and slavery. The first recorded mention of “white people”, historians...
Whiteness is an invented concept that has been used as a tool of oppression
Whiteness is often defined by what it is not, such as not being 'other' races. In sociology, whiteness is defined as a set of characteristics and experiences generally associated with being a member of the white race and having white skin.
In this paper, we provide a brief overview of research on whiteness, discuss how whiteness has been addressed within the social sciences, and illustrate how whiteness harms health and well-being among White Americans and broader society.
The concept of Whiteness was imported from Spain and Portugal during the slavery era, where Whiteness was defined as a way to contrast one’s identity as different from slaves.
Our definition of whiteness is a “pervasive social construction that has served as a tool of oppression for centuries.” That means it's important for all people to consider how the social structure of whiteness impacts and implicates them.
Whiteness theory treats whiteness not as a biological category but as a social construction. Insofar as whiteness is thought of as “natural,” it is understood in essentialized terms — either as a personal attribute or as a scientific category.