The DOI matches its Crossref record; 107 of the 107 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Persistent Problem of Colorism: Skin Tone, Status, and Inequality
Abstract
Abstract Colorism is a persistent problem for people of color in the USA. Colorism, or skin color stratification, is a process that privileges light‐skinned people of color over dark in areas such as income, education, housing, and the marriage market. This essay describes the experiences of African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans with regard to skin color. Research demonstrates that light‐skinned people have clear advantages in these areas, even when controlling for other background variables. However, dark‐skinned people of color are typically regarded as more ethnically authentic or legitimate than light‐skinned people. Colorism is directly related to the larger system of racism in the USA and around the world. The color complex is also exported around the globe, in part through US media images, and helps to sustain the multibillion‐dollar skin bleaching and cosmetic surgery industries.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“When colourism is experienced from a different racialised group, it can intensify experiences of racism, such that those with darker skin are more likely to experience racialised discrimination (Brown et al., 2023; Hunter, 2007).”
From Skin shade and relationships: how colourism pits Black and mixed Black-White women against each other (2024) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“As a racialised and gendered phenomenon, colourism can affect people differently according to their ethnicity and gender (Hunter, 2007; Dixon and Telles, 2017).”
From Skin shade and relationships: how colourism pits Black and mixed Black-White women against each other (2024) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“Among the many sinister collateral effects of the widespread belief in the superiority of whiteness has been the development and continued prominence of colorism in many countries and among many different peoples.”
From Skin color and race (2021) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“The belief that, within any nonwhite, non‐European group a person with light colored skin is preferred to one with darker skin is common (Dixon & Telles, 2017; Hall, 1998; Hunter, 2007, 2013; Jablonski, 2012b; Norwood & Foreman, 2014; Russell et al., 1992).”
From Skin color and race (2021) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“People with light skin ' earn more money, complete more years of schooling, live in better neighborhoods, and marry higher-status people than darker-skinned people of the same race or ethnicity ' (Hunter, 2007:237).”
From Colourism and the Politics of Beauty (2014) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007:237
In the citing paper
“The status that women derive from being deemed beautiful can lead to advantages in education and the job and marriage markets (Hunter, 2007).”
From Colourism and the Politics of Beauty (2014) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“In countries that were colonised by Europeans, light skin shades are privileged as a result of the legacy of colonialism, when white skin and associated features were accorded high status and dominance (Hunter, 2007; Glen, 2008).”
From Colourism and the Politics of Beauty (2014) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“Colourism will endure ' as long as the structure of white racism remains intact ' (Hunter, 2007:250) and multinational corporations continue to make an enormous profit from exploiting it.”
From Colourism and the Politics of Beauty (2014) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007:250
In the citing paper
“an operation that accounts for South Korea being the country with the highest proportion of its population having undergone cosmetic surgery (Hunter, 2007).”
From Colourism and the Politics of Beauty (2014) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“Hunter (2007: 248) argues that cosmetic changes to achieve lighter skin and white European features are rational given that they are likely to result in ' better opportunities in a competitive global marketplace ' .”
From Colourism and the Politics of Beauty (2014) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007:248
In the citing paper
“She suggests that light skin signified affluence in India (as in other countries -Hunter, 2007), in contrast to the darker skin of the poor or working classes, which resulted from labouring outside.”
From Colourism and the Politics of Beauty (2014) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“In regions colonized by Europeans, perceptions of light and dark have also come to take on racialized connotations (Hunter, 2007(Hunter, , 2013;;Keith & Monroe, 2016;Dixon & Telles, 2017).”
From Of Rarity and Symbolism: Understanding Human Perceptions of Charismatic Color Morphs (2024) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
In the citing paper
“In the United States, where systemic racism abounds, the perception of people with darker versus lighter skin may also influence the ways in which people view wildlife with darker or lighter pelages (Hunter, 2007;Pellow, 2016;Keith & Monroe, 2016).”
From Of Rarity and Symbolism: Understanding Human Perceptions of Charismatic Color Morphs (2024) · cites this paper as Hunter, 2007
Citations
Cites
Fanon, F. (2023) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003320609-46 · Cited by 6,322
Dion, K., Berscheid, E., & Walster, E. (1972) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0033731 · Cited by 3,865
Keeping Track: How Schools Structure Inequality.
Oromaner, M. J., & Oakes, J. (1986) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2070941 · Cited by 3,425
Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination.
Fishkin, S. F., & Morrison, T. (1993) · Journal of American History · doi:10.2307/2079882 · Cited by 3,069
The Colonizer and the Colonized
Memmi, A. (2013) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315065670 · Cited by 1,846
The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women
Wolf, N. (1990) · Vintage Books · Cited by 1,596
The beauty myth: how images of beauty are used against women
(1992) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.29-3031 · Cited by 1,257
Racial Formation in the United States
Omi, M., & Winant, H. (2018) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780429499821-49 · Cited by 1,097
Playing in the dark: whiteness and the literary imagination
(1992) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.30-0768 · Cited by 1,005
The Colonizer and the Colonized:
Helle, L. J. (2018) · Aarhus University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv62hhf8.11 · Cited by 945
Research works printed but not linked: 15
- Allen Walter, 2000, ‘Skin Color, Income, and Education: A Comparison of African Americans and Mexican Americans.’, National Journal of Sociology, 12, 129
- Brown Michael, 2003, White‐Washing Race: The Myth of the Colorblind Society
- Choy Catherine, 2005, Pinay Power: Peminist Critical Theory, 81
- Davis Kathy, 1995, Reshaping the Female Body
- Drake St. Clair, 1987, Black Folk Here and There, Volume One
- Ernst Klaus, 1980, Sociological Theories: Race and Colonialism
- Feagin Joe R., 2001, White Racism: The Basics
- Frazier E. Franklin, 1957, Black Bourgeoisie
- Freedman Rita, 1986, Beauty Bound
- Jordan Winthrop, 1968, White Over Black
- Lopez David, 1982, Language Maintenance and Shift in the U.S. Today: The Basic Patterns and Their Implications
- Montalvo F., 1987, Skin Color and Latinos: The Origins and Contemporary Patterns of Ethnoracial Ambiguity Among Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans
- Morgan Kathryn Pauly, 1998, The Politics of Women's Bodies: Sexuality, Appearance, and Behavior, 147
- Rondilla Joanne, 2007, Is Lighter Better?
- Smedley Audrey, 2007, Race in North America
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 601–700 of 761
A Synoptic and Multidimensional Theory of the Modern African Self
Nwoye, A. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190932497.003.0007
Enhancing awareness of colorism among pre-service teachers: a field placement approach
Crutchfield, J. M., Sparks, D., Williams, M., Findley, E., & Kalu, S. R. (2022) · SN Social Sciences · doi:10.1007/s43545-022-00336-5
Black/White Biracial Student Socialization in Higher Education
Williams, W. (2016) · doi:10.18130/v3x58f
(2018) · Temple University Press eBooks · doi:10.1353/book.64040
(2009) · Journal of Basic Writing · doi:10.37514/jbw-j.2009.28.1.01
(2018) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-805371-3.16001-7
Brown, N. E., & Lemi, D. C. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197540572.003.0009
Fair Heroes and Heroines, Dark Commoners-Colorism in Bangla FilmsPreprint
Saha, S., Choudhury, A. R., & Chatterjee, G. (2020) · doi:10.31235/osf.io/z4y36
Kirkegaard, E. O. W. (2017) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/qty3n
Fair Heroes and Heroines, Dark Commoners-Colorism in Bangla FilmsPreprint
Saha, S., Chatterjee, G., & Choudhury, A. R. (2020) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/97v42
Timming, A. R. (2019) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781788977913.00012
Zhang, W. (2017) · The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory · doi:10.1002/9781118430873.est0060
Monroe, C. R. (2015) · Theory Into Practice · doi:10.1080/00405841.2016.1109903
Brown, N. E., & Lemi, D. C. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197540572.003.0001
Garg, S., Chamoli, T., & Gupta, A. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1969656/v1
In Defense of the Classics, Against New Racism
Kogan, V. M. (2022) · Athens Journal of Social Sciences · doi:10.30958/ajss.9-4-4
Mbunyuza-Memani, L. (2022) · Communicare Journal for Communication Studies in Africa · doi:10.36615/jcsa.v38i2.1534
(2022) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-80382-053-820221009
The Case of Entrepreneurial Women in Jamaica
Esnard, T. (2022) · Palgrave studies in equity, diversity, inclusion, and indigenization in business · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-04752-7_7
Racism-related stress: Manifestations, moderators, and additional considerations
Shepard, B. D., Winchester, L. B., Hubbard, S. A., & Jones, S. C. T. (2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818872-9.00122-9 · Cited by 1
Cooking Up Inequality: An Ethnographic Study of Racial Hierarchies in Miami's Restaurant Industry
Williams, J. C. (2021) · FIU - Digital Commons (Florida International University) · doi:10.25148/etd.fidc009714
Marcus, L. (2019) · QMiP Bulletin · doi:10.53841/bpsqmip.2019.1.28.51
Colorism: The Relationship between Latino/a Self-Perceived Skin Color and Assimilation
Prado, S. (2012) · John Spoor Broome Library Institutional Repository (California State University)
A Qualitative Content Analysis of Colorism in Black Sitcoms
Dunlap, D., & Park, S. (2022) · Journal of Student Research · doi:10.47611/jsrhs.v11i3.2870
The Skin Tone Bias that Exists in China and the Role that Physical Appearance Plays
Wang, S. (2023) · Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media · doi:10.54254/2753-7048/2/2022402
Amalanathan, S., & Reddy-Best, K. L. (2023) · Fashion Style & Popular Culture · doi:10.1386/fspc_00192_1
Kolorismus auf dem indischen Subkontinent: Einsichten aus Perspektive der situierten Affektivität
Bajwa, M. J., & Stephan, A. (2023) · Dietrich Reimer Verlag eBooks · doi:10.5771/9783496030874-319
Fatherhood, Privilege, and Rac(e)ism
Gallais, C. (2023) · Genders and sexualities in the social sciences · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-34132-8_5
Shadism and Female Resistance in Toni Morrison's Novels
Nefnouf, A. S. E. (2022) · SZTE Repository of Dissertations (University of Szeged) · doi:10.14232/phd.11302 · Cited by 2
The Radical Imagination of Black Women’s Ambition
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.003.0002
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.003.0005
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.003.0007
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.005.0003
What Do Black Women Need from Black Women Elected Officials?
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.003.0006 · Cited by 1
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.003.0003 · Cited by 1
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.003.0001
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.002.0003
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.002.0007
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.002.0004
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.005.0002
An Ambition That Resists Marginalization
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.003.0004 · Cited by 1
Dowe, P. K. F. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197650790.005.0001
Colorism in advertisements in Kenyan print newspapers: A study of the nation newspaper
Otieno, M. A. (2023) · Journal of African History Culture and Arts · doi:10.57040/jahca.v3i2.525
(2023) · Journal of Economic Research & Reviews · doi:10.33140/jerr.03.03.15
La percepción del clasismo y el racismo colorista en la publicidad mexicana
Tipa, J. (2023) · Revista CS · doi:10.18046/recs.i41.01
Cabrera, S. A., Pinedo, A., & Diemer, M. A. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-96023-6.00049-x
Una aproximación a la fenotipocracia en la publicidad televisiva difundida en México
Álvarez, T. E. P. (2023) · Contratexto · doi:10.26439/contratexto2023.n40.6377
A Call for Transformative Cultural Collaboration
Sobre, M. S. (2023) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119745426.ch17 · Cited by 1
Framings of colourism among Kenyan Twitter users
Kiarie, C., & Jones, N.-J. (2023) · The African journal of information and communication · doi:10.23962/ajic.i32.16429 · Cited by 1
Automated Detection of Skin Tone Diversity in Visual Marketing Communication
Xie, W., Overgoor, G., Lee, H.-H. M., & Han, Z. (2023) · Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) · doi:10.24251/hicss.2023.467
Hirschauer, S., & Krings, M. (2024) · Berliner Journal für Soziologie · doi:10.1007/s11609-024-00520-9
#sponsored on Instagram: Analyzing Influencers’ Content With Luxury Fashion Brands
den Houdyker, T. (2024) · doi:10.32920/25417210
Where There is Lightness, There is Dark: Exploring Colourism in the Philippine Diaspora
Lopez, A. (2024) · doi:10.32920/25417162.v1 · Cited by 1
Lu, J. A., Chua, S. N., Kavanaugh, J. R., Prashar, J., Ndip-Agbor, E., Santoso, M., Jackson, D. A., Chakraborty, P., Raffoul, A., & Austin, S. B. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4763529
Gaines, L. T., & Massanari-Thatcher, V. (2024) · Journal of African American Studies · doi:10.1007/s12111-024-09652-x
Brown, N. E., & Lemi, D. C. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197540572.002.0004
Brown, N. E., & Lemi, D. C. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197540572.002.0008
Brown, N. E., & Lemi, D. C. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197540572.002.0003
Tez morena en el cine mexicano. Análisis del discurso clasista contemporáneo
Tapia, A. J., Arrazquito, A. J., & Valdellós, A. M. S. (2024) · Mediaciones Sociales · doi:10.5209/meso.93466
Atkins, A. (2024) · doi:10.30707/etd2024.20240618063947837809.999994
The Postcolonial African Migration to the West as a Desire for Being
Gebrewold, B. (2024) · Politics of citizenship and migration · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-58568-5_7
Calzada, E. J., Sevillano, L., Huang, K., & Barajas-Gonzalez, R. G. (2024) · Journal of Latinos and Education · doi:10.1080/15348431.2024.2370842
Making Sense of Racial Membership
Sandoval, A. N. (2024) · Pacific philosophical quarterly · doi:10.1111/papq.12473
Skin Color Bias and Racial Prejudice: Pre-Interview Impressions of Hispanic Sales Applicants
Watson, S., Alexander-Laine, A., Chambers, D., & Patton, T. T. (2024) · International Journal of Business & Management Studies · doi:10.56734/ijbms.v5n8a2
Doudy-Michez, O., Pohl, S., & Moerenhout, C. (2024) · Humain et Organisation · doi:10.7202/1113921ar
LGBTQ+ Asian body image: U.S. and globally
Le, T. P., & Pease, M. V. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-99980-9.00005-3
(2024) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-80043-432-520240009
Aspirations and meanings of lighter skin tone in the African context: A rapid review
Ntsokota, S., Malan, L., van Rensburg, E., & de Klerk, W. (2024) · Journal of Psychology in Africa · doi:10.1080/14330237.2024.2425233
Colorism, Seeing the Uncounted: Proposed Strategies and Action Steps for Public Administration
Smart, H. (2025) · Public Administration Quarterly · doi:10.1177/07349149251320707 · Cited by 1
ten Have, H. (2025) · Open Book Publishers · doi:10.11647/obp.0443.03
ten Have, H. (2025) · Open Book Publishers · doi:10.11647/obp.0443.04
ten Have, H. (2025) · Open Book Publishers · doi:10.11647/obp.0443.05
ten Have, H. (2025) · Open Book Publishers · doi:10.11647/obp.0443.06
ten Have, H. (2025) · Open Book Publishers · doi:10.11647/obp.0443.02
ten Have, H. (2025) · Open Book Publishers · doi:10.11647/obp.0443.01
O figurino como máscara da identidade
Soares, G., & Batista, F. E. A. (2025) · dObra[s] – revista da Associação Brasileira de Estudos de Pesquisas em Moda · doi:10.26563/dobras.v18i43.1859
Mellis, J. (2024) · The Langston Hughes Review · doi:10.5325/langhughrevi.30.1.0048
Teaching and proximity to whiteness: a Black biracial and light-skinned Latina professor reflect
Waring, C. D. L., & Ortiz, S. M. (2025) · Whiteness and Education · doi:10.1080/23793406.2025.2497052
Sanders, K., Cobbina, J., & McCoy, H. (2025) · Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice · doi:10.1177/10439862251341169
Colorism, Social Dynamics, and Mental Health Perception of Senior High School Learners
Quicho, J. B., & Nistal, C. (2025) · Psychology and Education A Multidisciplinary Journal · doi:10.70838/pemj.380504
Girls’ Violence in the Matrix of Domination: Skin Tone, Femininities, and Dignity Challenges
Coster, S. D. (2025) · Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice · doi:10.1177/10439862251341434
Why are people cosmetic skin whitening? A systematic reviewPreprint
Williams, S. N., Webb, T., Lohiniva, A., Jardan, E., Onyon, L. J., & Altieri, E. (2025) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2025.06.10.25329253
Pardo is the New Black: Reframing Racial Identity in Brazil and Beyond—A Systems Perspective
Sales, A., & Carvalho, J. (2025) · management revue · doi:10.31083/mrev39591
Komyaginskaya, E. S., Gallyamova, A. A., Conway, L. G., & Grigoryev, D. S. (2025) · International Journal of Intercultural Relations · doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102261
Considering Multiplicity in Racial Ethnic Socialization
Muñoz, M. A., & Gaither, S. E. (2025) · Annual Review of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-devpsych-111323-115125 · Cited by 1
Paler Is not Prettier: Little Evidence of Colorism among Asian American Speed-Daters
Wu, K. L., & Chen, C. (2025) · Sociology of Race and Ethnicity · doi:10.1177/23326492251360335
The Development and Validation of the Outgroup Colorism Scale
Bradley, R. E., Harvey, R. D., DeRossett, T., Taylor, N., & Banks, K. H. (2025) · Race and Social Problems · doi:10.1007/s12552-025-09453-1
Woodie, B. R., Shahin, M. M., Rivin, G. M., Woodie, H., & Fleischer, A. B. (2026) · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2026.04.1439
Discursive interactions: Racial ideologies, discourses, and socialization in Latinx families
Dueñas, M. D. (2025) · Latino Studies · doi:10.1057/s41276-025-00536-z · Cited by 1
“Wait, is she Black?”: Unsuccessful White Passing in Tiffany D. Jackson’s The Weight of Blood
Myllymäki, M., & Ghasemi, M. (2025) · Journal of Black Studies · doi:10.1177/00219347251376391
Reassessing Arrest Disparity Using Skin Tone as a Continuous Variable
Brockdorf, S. (2025) · Race and Social Problems · doi:10.1007/s12552-025-09464-y · Cited by 2
Metadata
- Authors
- Hunter, M.
- Affiliations
- Mills College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hunter, Margaret
- ORCID
- Hunter, Margaret
- Venue
- Sociology Compass
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-07-03
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 237-254
- ISSN
- 1751-9020 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2039378502
- Cited by
- 763
- References
- 104
- Citations by year
- 2026: 59 · 2025: 69 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 67 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 17.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sociology Compass (publishedVersion)
- Scholar Commons (Santa Clara University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Race, History, and American Society
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Critical Race Theory in Education
- Keywords
- colorism, skin tone, racial inequality, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, marriage market, residential segregation, income inequality, educational inequality, ethnic authenticity, racism, media representation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
