Situating Perceived Discrimination: How Do Skin Color and Acculturation Shape Perceptions of Discrimination?

• In Event: 190 - Section on Latino/a Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 06. Media Constructions of Latina/as and Discrimination

Abstract

This study uses the Latino National Study (2006) to explore the relationship between skin color, acculturation, and perceptions of discrimination across distinct situations. In general, acculturation (as measured roughly through generation-since-immigration and percentage of life spent in the U.S.) predicts a greater likelihood of perceiving discrimination, yet the type of situation may moderate the impact of skin color. Darker skin color seems to predict perceiving discrimination in public places such as being in a restaurant or looking for housing while skin color does not predict a higher likelihood of perceiving discrimination in the workplace and from the police. The author argues that one potential mechanism driving the relationship between skin color and perceptions of discrimination is the level of anonymity between the target of discrimination and the believed discriminator.

Author

• Emilce Santana, Princeton University