The Social Construction of Race in Peru: Miscegenation in Peru

In other posts, we have already talked about the incredible cultural variety that exists in our country. This goes from aspects such as culture, and language to more physical aspects such as skin color, features, etc.

But this time it is time to talk about a topic that somehow involves all of us as Peruvians. Yes, I am talking about miscegenation.

To begin with, what is miscegenation?

Miscegenation is the biological and cultural crossbreeding of individuals from different ethnic groups. In the past, miscegenation used to be related to the idea of racial mixing, that is, the union between individuals of different races; however, nowadays the concept of race has been discarded by science. Therefore, nowadays we rather speak of miscegenation when there is a biological (genetic material) and cultural (customs, traditions, beliefs, etc.) combination between individuals belonging to different ethnic groups. The result of this mixture is a new individual called "mestizo".

In our country and throughout the Americas, miscegenation originated with the arrival of Europeans to the continent and subsequently of the African slaves who came with them. In this encounter of cultures, several types of mestizos emerged.

Research called "Analysis of Genetic Variability in Different Mestizo and Native Populations," as a basis for the Development of Genomic Medicine in Peru" was conducted by Dr. Heinner Guio Chunga.

Research in which it is demonstrated that the Peruvian mestizo has 60% of its genes of indigenous origin. Other results of the study indicate that in the departmental capitals the indigenous component of the mestizos derives from the nearby indigenous populations. With the exception of Lima, where the indigenous component has a mixed origin (coastal, Andean, and Amazonian). Also, the populations with a high Andean indigenous component are Ayacucho, Cusco, Puno, and Tacna, the last two of which have a high proportion of Aymara-related components.

It is important to know our origins in order to accept and value them.

Reference:

Significados. (s. f.). Significados. Recuperado 8 de junio de 2022, de https://www.significados.com/mestizaje/.

Tarqui, V. (2018, 21 julio). El mestizo peruano tiene el 60% de genes indígenas, revela estudio. andina. Recuperado 8 de junio de 2022, de https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-el-mestizo-peruano-tiene-60-genes-indigenas-revela-estudio-718341.aspx.

ABOUT US

The following blog aims to: explain, show and identify the social construction of race that has existed in Peru over the time. We will go from the colonial era to the 21st century to explain how Peruvians currently see the word “race” and the internalized racism that exists in it. Simultaneously, we will explain the social consequences that colonialism had in Peru and how we live with them day to day. We will also see how the 2017 census, in which they asked how we ethnically self-identified, became a topic of debate and why many of us did not know how to answer it and how that behavior influenced the use of the term "ethnic group" as an euphemism for "race", even though there are certain differences between the two terms "Race" and "ethnicity" are complex terms and are often used interchangeably. These terms were initially separated to designate "race" as a biological quality and "ethnicity" as a cultural phenomenon. Our posts main feature will be the confrontation of these topic and will try to explain why it's wrong to discriminate and socially exclude people using race as a weapon. We will also be talking about social media and how the new generations are growing with the “influence” of characters online and their life’s from the perspective that certain looks, body shapes and skin color are the way to gain fame and social media popularity. We have noticed how many Peruvians deny discrimination with the typical phrase "We are all Peruvian" or “We are all Cholos”, in the blog we will also explain how that nationalistic phrase really affects and disguises discrimination. Peru is organized in such a way that people are educated in discrimination. It's something you learn at school, in families. It is something "normal" and happens everywhere, including the provinces. Another point that is of vital importance for there to be racism in Peru in the XXI century, is due to the influence that parents have on their children, this is because if the children grow up in an environment where the father has racist prejudices, whether because of skin color, physical features or some taboo they may have, children can have the same prejudices (approximately more than 60% of children with racist parents end up being their children the same as them). This coming to cause ridicule and aggression to other children, for the simple fact of being different (bullying) In this blog we will know in depth the diversity of our culture, we will learn to appreciate it and we will seek to make the population reflect on some of our attitudes and behaviors that could be considered "racist" and that have been maintained over time.With this blog we will try to build a reader's point of view on this important issue for our society. Our point is to be able to bring the subject to more people and create a small debate among us, each of the members will tell how we define our own definition of Peruvian race and identity

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Miscegenation in Peru

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