Comparing perceptions of racism and discrimination among Latin American and Caribbean migrants in the United States and Chile

Abstract

Based on two different migratory contexts, this article examines the perception of racism among migrant newcomers from Latin American and Caribbean countries in the United States and Chile. Drawing on survey data from both countries, this study shows that migrants’ perceptions associate different forms of discrimination with migration status and skin color. In addition, the results show that educational attainment is significantly related to perceived racism. While in the United States, a high educational level decreases the perception of racism, in Chile, it increases it. We argue that this is due to the significant differences in the migration processes in both countries, highlighting a strong link between the perception of skin color-based discrimination and the socio-cultural aspects of life. We argue that perceptions of discrimination and racism vary according to migratory patterns, the national and migration histories of host countries, and their respective migration policy environments. These factors influence how host societies perceive and interact with LAC migrants and, ultimately, shape whether migrants interpret their experiences as instances of racial discrimination. This comparative study contributes to migration and racial studies by identifying the contextual factors that shape migrants’ perceptions of discrimination in a globalized world.