SOCS-185
1970 vs. 2020 Census, has it changed?
Chamberlain College of Nursing
SOCS-185
The Census is done every ten years within the United States. The purpose of the Census
is to determine how many seats of representatives each state will need, depending on how
many persons are in that state. The Census has been conducted since the year 1970 and was
just recently completed in 2020. The next census will not be until 2030. Census categories
have changed over time, but the main underlying factor is that the idea of social constructs
need to change in terms of race, ethnicity, and gender.
Categories of the Census
The 1790 census categorized races as “free whites”, “slaves”, and ”all other free persons”
(Brown, 2020). American Indians were left out of the 1790 census (Miller, 2020). In those
times, race was a big factor on who had more dominant power. Unfortunately, European
Americans believed anyone who was not the color of their skin meant they were not equal to
them. The division of races became more and more drastic as time periods progressed. The 2020
census categorized “whites”, “black or African American”, “American Indian or Alaska
Native”, “Chinese”, “Japanese”, “Filipino”, “Korean” (Brown, 2020). In these categories I
would fall under white or free white because I am born American, but my ethnicity is Eastern
European. Gender is also a factor for the Census, but the reasoning is because local, state, tribal,
and federal agencies use data about males and females to plan and fund government programs
and evaluate other government programs and policies to ensure they fairly and equitably serve
the needs of both populations (Bureau, 2020). I would categorize as a white female in the year
of 2020.
1970 vs. 2020 Census, has it changed?
Chamberlain College of Nursing
SOCS-185
The Census is done every ten years within the United States. The purpose of the Census
is to determine how many seats of representatives each state will need, depending on how
many persons are in that state. The Census has been conducted since the year 1970 and was
just recently completed in 2020. The next census will not be until 2030. Census categories
have changed over time, but the main underlying factor is that the idea of social constructs
need to change in terms of race, ethnicity, and gender.
Categories of the Census
The 1790 census categorized races as “free whites”, “slaves”, and ”all other free persons”
(Brown, 2020). American Indians were left out of the 1790 census (Miller, 2020). In those
times, race was a big factor on who had more dominant power. Unfortunately, European
Americans believed anyone who was not the color of their skin meant they were not equal to
them. The division of races became more and more drastic as time periods progressed. The 2020
census categorized “whites”, “black or African American”, “American Indian or Alaska
Native”, “Chinese”, “Japanese”, “Filipino”, “Korean” (Brown, 2020). In these categories I
would fall under white or free white because I am born American, but my ethnicity is Eastern
European. Gender is also a factor for the Census, but the reasoning is because local, state, tribal,
and federal agencies use data about males and females to plan and fund government programs
and evaluate other government programs and policies to ensure they fairly and equitably serve
the needs of both populations (Bureau, 2020). I would categorize as a white female in the year
of 2020.
