What term describes the process of classifying individuals or groups based on racial understandings?

The correct term for the process of classifying individuals or groups based on racial understandings is racialization. This concept refers to how social dynamics create categories of race and how these categories influence the expectations, behaviors, and perceptions associated with individuals or groups. Racialization involves both the identification of certain characteristics that are deemed as socially significant and the attribution of meanings and values to these characteristics, often leading to the establishment of social hierarchies.

Understanding racialization is crucial in sociology as it highlights how race is not just a biological category but a complex social construct that affects people’s identities, opportunities, and experiences. By examining racialization, sociologists can better understand the implications of these classifications for issues related to power, privilege, and inequality within society.