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Cited by 763Racial and Ethnic Identity ResearchRace, History, and American SocietyCritical Race Theory in Education

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

Hunter, Margaret·2007·Sociology Compass
DOI 10.1111/j.1751-9020.2007.00006.x
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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.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1751-9020.2007.00006.x

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107 of 107 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 15

  1. Allen Walter, 2000, ‘Skin Color, Income, and Education: A Comparison of African Americans and Mexican Americans.’, National Journal of Sociology, 12, 129
  2. Brown Michael, 2003, White‐Washing Race: The Myth of the Colorblind Society
  3. Choy Catherine, 2005, Pinay Power: Peminist Critical Theory, 81
  4. Davis Kathy, 1995, Reshaping the Female Body
  5. Drake St. Clair, 1987, Black Folk Here and There, Volume One
  6. Ernst Klaus, 1980, Sociological Theories: Race and Colonialism
  7. Feagin Joe R., 2001, White Racism: The Basics
  8. Frazier E. Franklin, 1957, Black Bourgeoisie
  9. Freedman Rita, 1986, Beauty Bound
  10. Jordan Winthrop, 1968, White Over Black
  11. Lopez David, 1982, Language Maintenance and Shift in the U.S. Today: The Basic Patterns and Their Implications
  12. Montalvo F., 1987, Skin Color and Latinos: The Origins and Contemporary Patterns of Ethnoracial Ambiguity Among Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans
  13. Morgan Kathryn Pauly, 1998, The Politics of Women's Bodies: Sexuality, Appearance, and Behavior, 147
  14. Rondilla Joanne, 2007, Is Lighter Better?
  15. Smedley Audrey, 2007, Race in North America

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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)
DOI
10.1111/j.1751-9020.2007.00006.x
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
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
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

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