Colored Perceptions: Ethnically Distinctive Names and Assessments of Skin Color

• In Event: 174 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 10. Race and Color in Contemporary Society

Abstract

Skin color measures have appeared on several, recent social surveys. Scholars disagree, however, on the extent to which these measures are objective or exogenous. The present study is based on an original survey experiment designed to test whether assessments of a seemingly objective phenotypic trait, such as skin color, are affected by a subtle racial/ethnic cue, such as a name. The experiment represents a stringent test of the most recent brand of skin color measures––those that rely on visual color palettes. Results indicate that skin color ratings are affected by the presence of an ethnically distinctive name: a significant share of people will rate the same face as darker when that face is assigned a distinctively Hispanic name versus a non-Hispanic name. In addition, ratings of male faces are more sensitive to ethnically distinctive names. The findings bear important lessons both for the measurement of racial/ethnic inequality and our understanding of the social construction of race/ethnicity. The paper concludes by putting forth suggestions for the continued use and implementation of skin color measures.

Authors

• Denia Garcia, Princeton University

• Maria C. Abascal, Princeton University