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Perceived Skin Tone Discrimination Across Contexts: African American Women’s Reports

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Abstract

There is a void in empirical research that examines African American women’s self-reported skin tone discrimination from out-groups (e.g., whites) and in-groups (blacks). We analyzed data of women from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in the nationally representative National Survey of American Life (N = 1653). Light-skinned women reported less out-group colorism, and light-, medium-, and dark-skinned women with higher self-mastery perceived lower out-group colorism. Medium-skinned women perceived less in-group colorism, while dark-skinned women perceived more in-group and out-group colorism than counterparts. Implications for intergroup and intragroup race relations as well as well-being are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, 690 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA, 19383, USA

    Ekeoma E. Uzogara

  2. Institute for Social Research, Daniel Katz Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    James S. Jackson

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  1. Ekeoma E. Uzogara
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Correspondence to Ekeoma E. Uzogara.

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Uzogara, E.E., Jackson, J.S. Perceived Skin Tone Discrimination Across Contexts: African American Women’s Reports. Race Soc Probl 8, 147–159 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-016-9172-y

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