Silent discrimination: Venezuelan migrants’ perception of discrimination in Colombia

Abstract

In the context of the Venezuelan migratory crisis, recent opinion polls show an increase in discriminatory or xenophobic attitudes towards the Venezuelan population in Colombia. This paper presents an adjusted conceptual frame-work to understand the Venezuelan migrant crisis without appealing to the traditional concepts of race or language. Using a qualitative approach, we also study migrants’ perceptions of discrimination, in their interaction with host communities and the Colombian state. Evidence suggests that while Venezuelan migrants interviewed do not express suffering direct discrimination generally, they or their fellow conational constantly encounter indirect discrimination. This type of discrimination is highly mediated by social status and economic resources and is observed when interacting with the state or by stereotypes pushed forward by the media. Simply put, this means that apparently neutral norms or processes, involve more difficulties for Venezuelans simply because they are Venezuelan.