Social conceptions guide the everyday lives of people in modern society. Social constructs define the way individuals connect and share ideas that improve living standards. Race, ethnicity, and gender are three of the essential social constructs. People were referred to as slaves, negros, or free Whites in the 1790s. This naming approach is considered to have been racially motivated. Racism has reduced, as evidenced in the 2020 census, where people were categorized as being Latinos, African Americans, or whites. The 2020 census demonstrates that racial preconceptions prevalent in the nineteenth century are no longer prevalent in American society. The arguments in this paper will be based on the 1790 census, which will be compared to the 2020 census. The presentation will also detail how previous censuses would have classified me and my thoughts on social constructs and suggestions for future census categories.
What the Census Might Have Called Me
In terms of depicting discrimination against social groups, the 1790 census was less sensitive to social construct than the 2020 census. African Americans were classified as slaves in the 1970 census and hence were not treated equally to natives. In that census, Whites were regarded as superior, while African Americans were not considered human. Due to my African ancestry, I would have been classified as a slave or a Negro in the 1790 census. Whites coined the term "Negro" to describe African Americans, the majority of whom were slaves ( Mazumder, 2020) . Due to my color complexion, I would have been a victim of prejudice and ethnic profiling in the 1790 census. In addition, I would be unable to obtain an education or find work in a system where racism is the order of the day.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Things have changed since the 1790s, and the country has become more enlightened. Racial prejudice still exists, which has led to the formation of movements such as Black Lives Matter, which has been crucial in the fight against injustices perpetrated against black Americans. In comparison to the Negro name of the 1790 census, the 2020 census would have classified me as an African American, which I consider to be a good name. In addition, the 2020 census recognized the countries of origin of individual citizens. Those of African descent would be more loyal to our birth nations and treat them with more respect. The blacks were viewed as poor slaves in the 1790 census, yet the 2020 census was based on equity and fairness (Frey, 2021). Despite the changes made in the 2020 census, there were still significant incidences of prejudice and Ethnicity. As a result, the fight against racism must continue, with the explicit goal of demonstrating that we are all equal and that no one should be discriminated against because of race or skin color.
Social Constructs
As people become increasingly sensitive to racial identity, the American census has evolved dramatically in terms of race and gender. As a result, the federal government came up with more civilized terminology to describe races that did not connote prejudice. In the 2020 census, the federal government deleted the term "Negro" and replaced it with "African-American." During the census, citizens in the United States are classified by race, ethnicity, and gender (Mazumder, 2018). Because they can reasonably identify the three social conceptions, citizens in the United States consent to be classed according to them.
Race is not a permanent feature but a social construct, as the exercises from 1790 and 2010 demonstrated. During the 1790 census, the attention and priority were generally on Whites; but, in the 2020 census, more categories of ethnicity and race were introduced into the exercise. The increased categories were facilitated by the improvements in the political, social, and economic factors. These factors also had an impact on the roles of men and women in society. In the 1790 census, men were listed as the household's head, while in the 2020 census, women were identified as the household's head. Comparing the two exercises, it is evident that ethnicity, gender, and race are all social constructions that have changed through time.
The Census Bureau collects data that is socially classified based on population attributes. The Bureau has evolved through time to ensure that it captures the various ethnic and racial groupings that have evolved. Furthermore, Americans use a single race and several nationalities, indicating a lack of social structures. Because there were just Whites and Indians initially, social constructs came into play with the presence of White-Indians. As a result of people sharing races, creating these categories can lead to interracial relations.
Better Future Census Categories
People should be classified according to their gender and ethnicity in future censuses. The gender category is the one that would be best for the 2020 and 2030 Censuses. This category is chosen to represent the diversity of the US population, including females, men, bisexuals, transgender, gays, and lesbians. Unlike in the 1970s census, the introduction of new categories is consistent with evolving gender tendencies in modern society. These categories reflect population variations regarding gender throughout time and ensure various groups are adequately represented in the census exercise.
Second, ethnicity is a category that should be included in the 2020 and 2030 Censuses. Ethnicity must be classified to reflect America's diversity. That is significant because it demonstrates that the country appreciates different ethnic groups and commits to ending racism. Furthermore, to demonstrate variety in the United States, minority communities such as Asians should be divided into subgroups. According to Kendell (2018), the Asian population increased by 50% between 2003 and 2013. With that rate of growth, categorizing Asians by religion or ethnicity would be a valuable way to reflect the population's diversity. Minority ethnic groups should as well be included in the diversification of categories.
Conclusion
Census has been conducted for more than 200 years in U.S. It has expanded over time to include categories that define persons based on race, ethnicity, and gender. Racial discrimination and gender prejudice should all be avoided in future censuses. Future censuses, in my opinion, should be evaluated and altered to reflect the growing daily diversity. As a result, the census will be more constructive and less discriminatory, causing virtually all Americans to regard it as a crucial activity that will garner nearly 100% participation.
References
Frey, W. (2021). The 2020 Census Will Reveal About America: Stagnating Growth, An Aging Population, And Youthful Diversity. https://www.brookings.edu/research/what-the-2020-census-will-reveal-about-america-stagnating-growth-an-aging-population-and-youthful-diversity/
Kendall, D. (2000). Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials. https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/64289283/pdf-download-sociology-in-our-times-the-essentials-full-audiobook
Mazumder, S. (2018). The Census Has Always Been Political. Especially When It Comes To Race, Ethnicity, And National Origin. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/03/30/the-census-has-always-been-political-especially-when-it-comes-to-race-ethnicity-and-national-origin/
