The effect of skin color on the construction of racial identity in children

Abstract

The present research aimed to explore the processes of construction of the racial identity of Brazilian children. It is a cross-sectional study, developed from the replication of a study. Thirty children participated, aged between 9 and 13 years old, 33% white, 50% brown and 17% black. Semistructured diversions and photographs of real white, brown and black children, of both sexes were configured, taking as a measure of analysis, the self-categorization and racial preference of children. As a result, the study pointed to a tendency towards self-whitening, where the white child was identified as preferred and had socially favorable characteristics, while the black child was deprecated. The study demonstrates that children are active agents in the construction of their racial identities and that the skin color has significant effects on the process, whose debate needs to be expanded and democratized.