Quace
A hypothetical concept like race, but one where there is no way to tell people of different quaces apart. Asking “what quace are you really?” would be meaningless.
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Quace | A hypothetical concept like race, but one where there is no way to tell people of different quaces apart. Asking “what quace are you really?” would be meaningless. |
| Horizontal Race System | A system where race refers to physical traits (like appearance or ancestry) but has no social significance. No one lies about or suspects others of lying about their race. This is the kind of system we think we have, but actually don’t. |
| Vertical Race System | A system where race both refers to something and matters socially and politically. Determines access to power, resources, and rights. Exists to maintain dominance of one race over others. Shaped by history, stereotypes, privilege, and oppression. The same structure applies to gender and sexuality. |
| Reality of Race | Race is not about skin color or ancestry, but about your position within a social system that assigns meaning and privilege based on perceived group membership. Example: “Whiteness” means how you’re treated and what you can safely do, not your complexion. |
| Social Self | The idea that social identities — though relational and context-dependent — are still essential properties of who you are. Alcoff agrees with constructivists that race and gender change over time and are socially constructed, but she also believes they are essential to the self — they shape who you are and how you experience the world. |
| Social Identities | Parts of your self that come from your relationships and social roles with others. Examples: race, gender, sexuality, religion, family roles (sibling, parent, etc.) These relationships and identities shape how you perceive and experience the world. |
| Relational Properties | Characteristics that depend on relationships with others. Some are non-essential (can lose them and still exist — like being a parent). Others, like social identities, are fundamental to how you experience reality. |
| Perspective and Experience | Because social identities shape perception, it’s hard to fully understand someone with different social identities. To do so, we must reject the idea of the self as an isolated individual and instead see it as embedded in a social context. |