Brym and Lie conclude that it is misleading to claim that "race and ethnicity are quite different,since one is biological and the other is cultural." Both race and ethnicity,they claim,are rooted in social structure,not biology and culture.

Social Structure

The organized pattern of social relationships and social institutions that together compose society, including the distribution of power and resources.

Race

A social construct that categorizes people based on physical characteristics, ancestry, historical affiliation, or shared culture, often influencing individuals' identities and experiences.

Ethnicity

Ethnicity refers to the shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group of people from another, usually identified by common ancestry, language, and heritage.