Eurocentrism and the Postcolonial Implications of Skin Color Among Latinos

Abstract

Eurocentrism is a worldview of the academic mainstream. It is grounded in a European perspective that manifests as a tendency to interpret and prioritize the world in Western terms, Western values, and Western experiences. Eurocentric frames of reference are pathological as pertains to the psychological well-being of Latinos. Evidence of said pathology is apparent via active litigation and increased rates of depression correlated to skin color for both sexes. Those having darker skin experience significant impact not acknowledged by mainstream social science due to the Eurocentric bias of social science literature. Thus the future viability of social science and the well-being of Latino populations rest on the willingness of its intelligentsia to accommodate and/or acknowledge skin color and other alternative views in their mainstream research and publication of literature. © 2011 The Author(s).