How does the social construction of race influence individual identity and experiences of discrimination in society?

The social construction of race means that society creates and defines what race is, rather than it being based purely on biology. This affects individual identity because people often see themselves and others through the lens of these social definitions. For example, a person might identify strongly with a racial group because society has given that group specific characteristics or stereotypes. When these constructed ideas lead to discrimination, such as unfair treatment at work or in schools, individuals may feel marginalized or judged based on their race rather than their true abilities or character. This shows how the way society views race can deeply shape personal experiences and how people see themselves in the world.