Racial background

[DBC03]

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When filling out forms regarding actual racial background (not ethnic background), is it proper to check off multiple boxes that are accurate if you know it's not being used for admissions? ie you don't want to apply as URM and are not ethnically URM, but racially/genetically are? Not sure what is ethical/honest/moral in this situation.

 

[Lucca]

huh? just mark off ur ethnicity.

 

[DBC03]

huh? just mark off ur ethnicity.

Ok, thanks. I almost always just see "ethnicity" but this one was racial background instead, so I wasn't sure if I should mark off everything or just go with ethnicity.

 

[grapefruit17]

Can you give a specific example of what you mean?

 

[DBC03]

Can you give a specific example of what you mean?

I'm part Native American, but I'm not applying as Native American. If a school is collecting data on actual race and not ethnicity and is not using it for admissions purposes, I wasn't sure if I should check that box as well as I'm really not just northern European.

 

[grapefruit17]

what part Native American? how much?

 

[DBC03]

what part Native American? how much?

We're pretty sure Creek - we have pictures of the ancestor, but some of the history is lost. 1/16 to 1/8 (some from dad as well)

 

[grapefruit17]

I wouldn't bank on that for much then

 

[deleted853480]

There is only one race. The human race!

 

[xochitl]

When filling out forms regarding actual racial background (not ethnic background), is it proper to check off multiple boxes that are accurate if you know it's not being used for admissions? ie you don't want to apply as URM and are not ethnically URM, but racially/genetically are? Not sure what is ethical/honest/moral in this situation.

I never mark anything for "race" as there are no options for me. I am Mexican-American and the closest thing is native american or white and im not either of those

 

[DBC03]

I wouldn't bank on that for much then

Yeah, I'm not trying to use it for anything. This is something that isn't used for admissions, so I felt like it might be somewhat disingenuous to put northern European if that's not entirely correct. If it asked for Ethnicity, I'd definitely go with just "white." but they didn't have "white" as a race - it was much more specific.

 

[DBC03]

I never mark anything for "race" as there are no options for me. I am Mexican-American and the closest thing is native american or white and im not either of those

Yeah - this one *might* have had something along those lines. I haven't looked at it recently. It was so specific it felt weird to leave anything out.

 

[xochitl]

Yeah, I'm not trying to use it for anything. This is something that isn't used for admissions, so I felt like it might be somewhat disingenuous to put northern European if that's not entirely correct. If it asked for Ethnicity, I'd definitely go with just "white." but they didn't have "white" as a race - it was much more specific.

In terms of "race" how can you be more specific than white? did it say like anglo-saxon or something?

 

[DBC03]

In terms of "race" how can you be more specific than white? did it say like anglo-saxon or something?

"northern european" and a few other options.

 

[Inspired Chaos]

I always thought race = skin color. So for ethnicity you might be European but racially you are white if your skin looks white. It's odd for them to give options for race that aren't based on skin color.

 

[DBC03]

I always thought race = skin color. So for ethnicity you might be European but racially you are white if your skin looks white. It's odd for them to give options for race that aren't based on skin color.

I don't really like the term race, but when I think of it, I think of everything in your background - especially if the list includes specific previous roots. I'm definitely "white" skin tone, but not bone structure. I get a few questions about my ethnic background periodically.

Honestly, I really feel like the term Race is kind of weird, but didn't mind it within the context. It was not being used for anything other than a survey of sorts and read like something you'd get from a DNA company. I understand the use of ethnicity as that seems more like how you grew up.