Posición socioeconómica, discriminación y color de piel en México

Abstract

This article documents the differences in socioeconomic position, discrimination experiences and self-perception according to skin color among Mexican adults, considering that the last is a proxy of the phenotype symbolically associated with geographic ancestry (i. e., African, indigenous, or European). The analysis is based on the premise that in Mexican society prevailing an ideology that associates European characteristics with positive traits (i. e., “white privilege”), while African and indigenous characteristics are negatively valued (which results in racist practices). To achieve the objective the National Survey on Discrimination in Mexico was analyzed. The results indicate that, with exceptions, whites have more access to education, better jobs, and higher wages; with less frequency experience discrimination and like their skin. As the skin is darker the opposite trend is verified.