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Why is the label "Ethnic" given to all ppl, and things from non whites? Don't whites have an ethnicity also?

The label ethnic is applied to various people, as well as things such as food, jewelry, hair, artwork etc. There is even a group on yahoo that is labeled "Ethnic Food" I've often wondered about this labeling, and how it applies if at all to White people, particularly those in the West, or if it is indeed a category for all things non-white?

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  • 1 decade ago
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    Ethnic doesn't refer to "race" but to a cultural group, so technically, yes, "whites" can be ethnic too, but ethnic what?? They can be ethnic Germans, Serbs, Poles, etc. It refers to the social traditions that defines you and makes you part of a group, such as what you eat, socialize, etc.

    Source(s): sociology minor in college
  • 1 decade ago

    That's a very good question.

    Considering that 'pertaining to or characteristic of a people, sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like' is the definition of the word 'ethnic', this is a good example of how usage of a word by some societies more frequently in a context could change the perception of its real meaning!

    However I must say that in multicutural societies this word is understood very clearly. In India which is non-white 'ethnicity' is very well understood, thanks to greatly developed multi cutural, ethnic dressing, art and jewellery!

  • 1 decade ago

    that's a great question! but i think it usually doesn't refer to white ppl cuz the term 'white' is extremely general, there are whites of Celtic origin (Irish, Welsh...) Scandinavian(Swedish,danish...), Anglo( English, German..), French, Italian,Greek, Slavic nations and the list goes on. But the term 'ethnic' always refers to a very specific cultural group and because there isn't one very specific white culture ...well u get the picture.

    oh n Yaz,r u habesha or have u been to Ethiopia and/or Eritrea?

  • 1 decade ago

    Because it is in reference to culture and tends to signify things "not white". White has no culture behind it, but the various forms of white do, i.e British, German, European, American, Russian, etc. There has never been a "white" culture which is why there is no college major in "white" studies or "white" history.

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  • 1 decade ago

    no, whites in America do not have an ethnicity or a culture.

  • 1 decade ago

    ha ha cause you know white people made up the lable, because its different from what they are, except in the south white and black make the same foods most of the time(not all). i never thought about this question before, so i guess the white people search for their recipes or etc it would be under "american" right?

    Source(s): i am 1/2 white and mex....
  • 1 decade ago

    All people, even whites have ethnicity. Our ethnicity is caucasian.

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