Dont you think ethnicity is more a about genetics than place of birth?

Question

Let's say a white British family is going on family holiday to China.. and the wife happens to give birth in China, then goes back home and her son is now considered Chinese jus because he was born in China, even though he's white, lived in England mostly his whole life has British parents and has a British accent... But he's chinese... What? That doesn't make sense to meI think your ethnicity is more to do with the genetics you inherit from your parents/ the way you look, and where you were brought up for most of your life. so I wouldn't call that kid Chinese. And I also wouldn't call Gordon Ramsay Scottish just because he was in Scotland for his first few minutes alive, he looks English, he sounds English, and he was brought up in England for 90% of his childhood... Therefore he is English to me

Aperson32 · Accepted Answer

Well me being born in America, but mixed with at least 3 different races, (on both parents sides), I've been called white a lot in my life and people always ask where are you from. I don't know what that means like are they asking place of birth or genetic ethnicity but I would say, since your asking about if ethnicity is more about place of birth or genetics, it would genetics because you can't change them of someone else whether or not you want to call someone white just because they were born in America or just because they look light, place of birth doesn't make a difference, i mean it can, but I care about my ancestors, so...

WhatTheHeckkkk · Accepted Answer

I consider ethnicity genetics rather than place of birth.  I consider nationality the place of birth and/or citizenship.

NaultD · Accepted Answer

The raised part of "born and raised" should be the more relevant aspect. I understand what you're saying but i believe it's being conflated in the common statement "born and raised"

So a person is born in a family they have the family traditions. Language, festivals, food that can move to any region. Being raised in an area is more locally created culture for everyone involved in that community over time. For your example being born dosen't mean anything but 5, 10, or 20 years growing up in a community means a just as much growing up with your own family.

TheBigWhistle · Accepted Answer

This is nonsense. The child of a Brit who happened to be born in China may if their laws allow it be a Chinese citizen but no one would consider him Chinese or refer to him as Chinese.

Anonymous · Answer

I agree partly. Ethnicity is about heritage, but it is NOT about the way you “look.” For example, I’m mixed race and I “look” more one race than the other, but it doesn’t mean I’m more of that race. I’m equally half and half, it doesn’t matter what I look like, it’s what I am.

EnglishEuropean · Answer

According to your logic if Gordon Ramsay had Scottish parents, he is Scottish. Your accent is influenced more by where you live than where you were born, although you can change location and keep your accent to a degree.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

100% genetics. Me having a child in Japan won't make my child Japanese nor look like a typical Japanese person..

NamerOfStars · Answer

Ethnicity is entirely about genetics; the only way birthplace could influence that is if you were born in Chernobyl.

OddBeMe · Answer

I think it’s where you believe you’re from more than anything else.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Tempest in a teapot.

Avicenna · Answer

Depends

Anonymous · Answer

Elon Musk is African-American. Prove me wrong.

driven159 · Answer

it would depend on the country's laws

elizsaeli · Answer

Genetics.

Dont you think ethnicity is more a about genetics than place of birth?

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Dont you think ethnicity is more a about genetics than place of birth?

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