What is Scientific Racism? Describe the concept, its context, and its implications as fully as possible. Your answer must include a discussion of at least two of the following in your answer: Orientalism; evolutionary theory; positivism and The Myth of Photographic Truth; the videos “The Couple in the Cage” and “Sara Baartman: The Hottentot Venus.” THIS IS 15 MARKS QUESTION Scientific Racism

Scientific Racism

Scientific racism is a concept that emerged from the nineteenth century and has evolved into a pervasive and powerful tool of oppression and exploitation in the modern world (The Couple in the Cage, 2015). This concept is rooted in the idea that some groups of people are biologically inferior to others, and it has primarily been used to justify and legitimize the subordination of certain races. Its most common forms include Orientalism, evolutionary theory, positivism, and the myth of photographic truth. Orientalism is a form of scientific racism that portrays Asians, Africans, and other peoples of the East as being inferior to those of the West. This concept was used to justify colonialism, imperialism, and other forms of oppression in the nineteenth century (Sara Baartman, 2015). Similarly, evolutionary theory has also been used to legitimize racism, as it suggests that some races are more evolved and advanced than others. Positivism is a form of scientific racism that relies on the assumption that there is only one ‘correct’ way of thinking and that any deviation from it is wrong. Finally, the myth of photographic truth is a form of scientific racism that relies on the notion that images and photographs can provide an objective and unbiased representation of reality. The videos “The Couple in the Cage” and “Sara Baartman: The Hottentot Venus” are powerful examples of the impacts of scientific racism. Cont…