An ethnic group is a human population whose members identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry (Smith 1986). Ethnic groups are also usually united by common cultural, behavioural, linguistic, or religious practices. In this sense, an ethnic group is also a cultural community.

From an objective standpoint, an ethnic group is also an endogamous population, that is, members of an ethnic group procreate primarily with other members of their ethnic group, something which is measurable in terms of characteristic average genetic frequencies. These differences, however, usually do not approach the magnitude of racial difference in that the genetic differences within an ethnic group are greater than the difference between any two ethnic groups. The characteristic of endogamy is reinforced by proximity, cultural familiarity, and also social pressure (in extreme cases, by legal command) to procreate within the ethnic group.

Types of ethnic group

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In general, two types of ethnic groups have arisen in human history. The earliest form is the kinship-based ethnic group most closely corresponding to the term "tribe". As human populations became more mobile, another type of ethnic group arose, most closely associated with the evolution of the state ("country"), as the opportunity to procreate outside the old kinship systems presented itself. Invasion, migration, and pan-ethnic religions have contributed to a further evolution of new ethnic groups out of the mixture of older ethnic groups. At the same time, ethnic distinction can persist, even within the bounds of a single country as long as members of an ethnic group procreate primarily among themselves, for various reasons.

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' i need a nice boyfriend.. But he has to be ethnic ' Hahahaha i love Leah
superxsusie (susie mcaskill) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:14:00 -0000
' i need a nice boyfriend.. But he has to be ethnic ' Hahahaha i love Leah
@073007 uhhm bio ethnic studies spanish and a writing class.
BeccaBabieee (Becca Do-Reynoso) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:11:48 -0000
@073007 uhhm bio ethnic studies spanish and a writing class.
Listening to 89.7 en route to SF, @repressd would dig it! Ethnic, circusy-reggaesque tunes!
lilivonshtupp (leigh ann dufurrena) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:10:24 -0000
Listening to 89.7 en route to SF, @repressd would dig it! Ethnic, circusy-reggaesque tunes!
Ethnic minorities struggle against prejudice, poverty, and oppression. #DUO_444
DUOBOT (DUOBOT) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:06:02 -0000
Ethnic minorities struggle against prejudice, poverty, and oppression. #DUO_444
Ethnic apparel manufacturer Fabindia is looking to expand its presence across India, with specific focus on the South Indian markets.
newsbuzzer (News Buzzer) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:55:02 -0000
Ethnic apparel manufacturer Fabindia is looking to expand its presence across India, with specific focus on the South Indian markets.
Need multi-ethnic donors! RT @miss_mu He has 104 matches in the NMDP database, I have none. #beatcancer - register in US/Cda/UK registries
SA4L (South Asians 4 Life) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:52:19 -0000
Need multi-ethnic donors! RT @miss_mu He has 104 matches in the NMDP database, I have none. #beatcancer - register in US/Cda/UK registries

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