Discrimination based on skin color facts for kids

Discrimination based on skin color, also known as colorism, is when people are treated differently because of their skin color, even if they are from the same ethnic group or race. It's a type of racism where lighter skin is often seen as better or more desirable.

This kind of discrimination happens all over the world. Studies show it affects many areas of life, like getting a job, finding a home, going to school, and even getting medical care. It's a big problem in places like the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Around the World

Discrimination based on skin color can affect almost every part of a person's daily life. For example, some research shows that people with darker skin, especially Black people, might get fewer chances for higher education or good jobs. They might also be treated less kindly and face challenges in relationships. Sometimes, they even receive less good medical care.

Studies in North America and Europe show that there's a lot of unfairness in hiring. People from minority groups often have to send many more job applications than others to get an interview. In the U.S., differences in wealth and health between lighter-skinned and darker-skinned African Americans can be as big as the differences between white people and African Americans.

Asia

In many parts of East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, people often prefer lighter skin. This is true in countries like China, South Korea, India, Pakistan, Philippines, and Japan.

The idea of lighter skin being more beautiful goes back a long time in Asia. In ancient times, having light skin meant you were wealthy and important because you didn't have to work outside in the sun. Servants, who worked outdoors, usually had darker skin. Ancient Asian cultures also linked light skin to feminine beauty. For example, in Korea, "jade" white skin was seen as ideal. In Japan, women used rice powder to whiten their faces. Chinese women wanted "milk white" skin and even ate powdered pearls to try and achieve it.

Today, many women in places like Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea use skin whitening creams. Even fairy tales in some Asian cultures show light-skinned princesses as good and pure. This idea that light skin means beauty, success, and power still affects things like marriage, jobs, and social status.

Modern East Asia still has these biases. They are also influenced by Western ideas of beauty and media, which often connect whiteness with being modern, rich, and successful.

China and Japan

In Japan, there's an old saying: "white skin makes up for seven defects." This means that if a woman has very light skin, people might overlook other things they don't like about her looks. Skin color has always influenced how attractive someone is seen and their social standing.

While people in the Western world often described East Asians as "yellow," Chinese and Japanese people rarely used that term for themselves. The Japanese traditionally used the word shiroi, meaning "white," to describe lighter skin tones.

In ancient Japan, court ladies would put a lot of white powder on their faces. Many old drawings and writings from Japan mention women with white skin. For example, The Tale of Genji, written around 1000 AD, describes this.

Malaysia

A survey in Malaysia found that three out of four men thought their partners would be more attractive with lighter skin.

In Malaysia, a popular beauty ideal is the "Eurasian look" or "pan-Asian look." This comes from the idea that fair skin is beautiful, which Eurasians often have naturally. There has been some debate about too many pan-Asian faces being shown on TV and billboards. Some politicians have called for more Malay, Chinese, and Indian faces instead. However, some experts say using pan-Asian faces can show Malaysia's diverse population and help promote products to different groups.

India

The effects of colorism in India have been clear for a long time. Historical rulers, like the Mughals and Europeans, influenced the idea that light skin was linked to power. Studies show that a preference for lighter skin in India was connected to both the Indian caste system and colonial rule. In the Hindu social system, people in higher castes often had lighter skin.

Europeans also favored lighter-skinned Indians for important jobs, which made people believe that power and light skin went together. Rich people in India often have lighter skin because they don't work outside as much. Even though the caste system was made illegal in 1948, it still affects many parts of the country.

Colorism deeply affects people's lives in India, especially for those with darker skin. This can make it harder for them to get ahead in society. Darker-skinned people are sometimes seen as "dirty" or of lower status. This is very common in some regions. For example, in the state of Maharashtra, many tribal girls trained to be flight attendants through a government program. But most were denied jobs because of their darker skin. A few only got jobs as ground crew, out of sight. This shows how light skin is often linked to better living conditions.

This issue often affects Indian women more than men. Men with darker skin can often marry women with lighter skin, but darker-skinned women don't have the same opportunities. This is partly because of traditional ideas about gender in India.

The cosmetic industry in India sells many "fairness" creams that promise to lighten skin. Also, in Indian movies and media, most actors and actresses have light skin, and sometimes their photos are even edited to make them look lighter. Using skin-lightening products can harm both mental and physical health. People who use these creams often remain unhappy with their skin. Unregulated products can cause skin damage and even increase the risk of skin cancer.

Pakistan

Pakistan is known for its focus on colorism. Skin whitening creams are very popular, especially among women. The media plays a big role in this. Constant ads for whitening creams and seeing light-skinned Bollywood actors as role models make many people want a fair complexion. This includes staying out of the sun as much as possible. A popular web series called "Conversations with Kanwal" has even discussed how colorism affects women's chances of marriage in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka

Fair skin is seen as beautiful in Sri Lanka today, and this idea also comes from ancient beauty standards. Skin lightening products are widely sold and popular among women. Light-skinned actors in Bollywood films and Korean dramas, which are very popular in Sri Lanka, also influence these beauty ideals.

Africa

In some parts of Africa, women with lighter skin are thought to be more beautiful and more likely to succeed. This often leads women to use skin lightening treatments, many of which are harmful.

Historically, skin lightening became popular during European colonialism. People with lighter skin received more benefits and privileges. This created a social ladder where lighter skin was at the top, leaving many darker-skinned individuals with negative feelings about themselves.

Colorism affects both men and women in African countries, but it strongly influences how women are seen in terms of beauty, success, and marriage. The number of women using bleaching products has increased. For example, 77% of Nigerian women, 52% of Senegalese women, and 25% of Malian women use these products. Reports from Ghana even say that lighter-skinned people earn more. Some pregnant women take pills or apply bleaching lotion to their babies, hoping their child will be born with fair skin, believing it will improve their child's future.

Europe

Studies suggest that police practices, like stopping people based on their race, and focusing too much on minority areas, can lead to more racial minorities being suspected of crimes in Europe. Research also points to possible unfairness in the justice system, leading to more convictions for racial minorities in countries like Sweden, the Netherlands, and France.

Many studies show a lot of racial discrimination in hiring in Europe and North America. Minority job candidates often have to send about 50% more applications than others to get an interview.

A study in 2014 found a lot of racial and ethnic discrimination in the housing market in several European countries. This includes being treated unfairly when trying to rent a home and facing difficulties in fitting into society because of foreign origin.

Latin America

Brazil

Brazil has the largest population of people of African descent outside of Africa. People with mixed racial backgrounds and lighter skin often have better chances to move up in society. There are many more leaders and important people of European descent than those of African descent. There are also big differences in health, education, and income between different racial groups in Brazil.

One study found that skin color is an even stronger predictor of social inequality in Brazil than the "race" categories used in the census. Even though people of mixed and Black backgrounds make up more than half of the population, they are less than 25% of elected politicians.

A study in 2015 found that Brazilian math teachers gave better grades to white students than to equally good and well-behaved Black students. Another study in 2018 found that unfair hiring practices caused 6-8% of the wage gap between races.

Chile

Chile has a wide variety of cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Colorism in Chile is often linked to social and economic status. There's a common idea that darker skin is less valued. A 2016 study found that Chilean teachers had lower expectations for their dark-skinned students than for their light-skinned students.

Even being dark-skinned versus being tanned can have different meanings. Being tanned might suggest someone has money to go to the beach, while darker skin has historically been linked to lower social classes due to colonization. Many Chileans today prefer to have lighter skin and even see themselves as White, despite having a mix of skin tones.

Mexico

A study in 2017 showed a big difference in educational success in Mexico between people with the darkest and lightest skin tones. Wealth in the country was also linked to skin color, with lighter-skinned people generally having more.

United States

History

When Europeans colonized the Americas, they created a system where white people were seen as superior. This led to unfair treatment and control over Africans and Native Americans. Differences in skin color were used to justify enslaving and mistreating people. This created a social ladder with white people at the top and Black people at the bottom.

Slaves with lighter skin were often given easier jobs, like working inside the house. Darker-skinned slaves usually had to do hard labor outdoors. This created divisions among the enslaved people. African Americans with some white heritage were sometimes seen as smarter and better than dark-skinned Black people. They were given more chances for education and to own land.

One famous way skin color was judged was the "brown paper bag test." If a person's skin was darker than a brown paper bag, they were considered "too dark." This test was used in some Black communities in the 20th century. During slavery, slave owners used it to decide who worked indoors. This led to the idea that light-skinned slaves had privileges.

Other tests included the "comb test," which checked how straight a person's hair was, and the "door test," where some Black clubs and churches would only let in people whose skin was lighter than a certain shade of brown on their door. These tests showed what level of "blackness" was considered acceptable. Because lighter-skinned slaves were sometimes educated, a harmful stereotype developed that dark-skinned people were not smart.

Business

Studies show that people from minority groups often face discrimination when buying things. For example, they might be quoted higher prices for products. A study in 1995 found that car dealers offered lower prices to white men than to Black or female buyers, even when they bargained the same way. A 2013 study found that iPods sold on eBay got 21% more offers if a white hand held the iPod in the photo compared to a Black hand.

African Americans have historically faced challenges getting credit and loans. A 2020 study of banks found that Black business owners seeking loans received much worse treatment than white business owners. Bus drivers also showed discrimination against Black passengers.

Education

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that all children should have access to equal schools, regardless of skin color. However, today, not all state-funded schools in the U.S. receive equal money. Schools get money from federal, state, and local governments. Local funding often comes from property taxes. This means schools in poorer areas get less money than schools in wealthier areas. The U.S. Department of Education says that many high-poverty schools have fewer resources. Children of color are more likely to live in poverty than white children, so this affects them more.

A 2015 study found that university professors were more likely to respond to white male students asking for mentoring than to other students, especially in higher-paying subjects. Also, a 2016 study found that Black and Hispanic children were often not included in programs for gifted children when teachers chose who got in. But when a universal IQ test was used, the difference was much smaller.

The "brown paper bag test" was also used by some African-American sororities and fraternities. They would not let anyone join if their skin was darker than a brown paper bag. The film School Daze made fun of this practice at historically Black colleges.

Health

Studies show that racism at different levels can cause health problems for racial and ethnic minorities and create health differences between groups.

A 1999 study found that doctors treated Black and white patients differently, even when their medical information was the same. Doctors were less likely to suggest a helpful heart procedure for Black patients. A 2015 study found that children's doctors were more likely to give less pain medicine for appendicitis to Black children than to white children. A 2019 study in Science found that a common health risk assessment tool wrongly concluded that "Black patients are healthier than equally sick White patients." This led to Black patients getting less care. A 2020 study found that when Black newborns were cared for by Black doctors, their death rate was cut in half compared to white infants.

A 2018 report found that African Americans and Native Americans were not included enough in studies for new medicines. This means they have less access to new experimental treatments.

Housing and Land

Many studies show a lot of racial discrimination in the American housing market. Minority people often had to make many more calls to see properties. There's still a significant problem of guiding African Americans to certain neighborhoods. Historically, there was widespread discrimination against African Americans in housing and mortgages. Government actions also helped create this problem, leading to neighborhoods being separated by race and contributing to differences in wealth.

A 2019 study found that in neighborhoods where Black people moved in, rental prices increased, but home values decreased. A 2016 study found that areas zoned for industrial use in Chicago were often in neighborhoods with racial minorities.

A report by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development found that African Americans were shown fewer apartments to rent and fewer houses for sale than white people. A 2017 study found that requests for Airbnb housing from guests with African American names were 16% less likely to be accepted than those from guests with white names.

Historically, banks practiced "redlining," which meant they discriminated against people living in certain neighborhoods, often those with many African Americans. This had a lasting negative effect on homeownership rates, home values, and credit scores in those areas. Because many African Americans couldn't get regular home loans, they had to use lenders who charged very high interest rates.

Labor Market

Many studies show a lot of racial discrimination in hiring in the American job market. A 2017 study found that discrimination against African Americans has not changed much since 1989. Studies where identical resumes with typically Black and white names were sent to employers showed that minority candidates had to send about 50% more applications to get an interview. One study found that African American job applicants with no criminal record were offered jobs at the same low rate as white applicants who did have criminal records.

Research suggests that African American women with lighter skin often earn more and are happier with their jobs than those with darker skin. U.S. courts have even recognized "being too Black" as a reason for job discrimination. For example, in one case, an employee was told she was "too Black" for certain tasks, and the court found that her skin color, not just her race, played a role in her not getting promoted.

Media

Colorism in movies, print, and music can show up in different ways. It can be how people of color are shown in a bad light, how actors are hired based on their skin color, or simply not showing people of color at all.

Children's stories often reflect society's values. In the past, fairy tales taught girls how to fit into society, often emphasizing beauty and marriage. Research shows that during times of racial conflict, Black characters almost disappeared from children's books. This means children's media can show how social power changes.

Fairy tales often describe characters' looks, especially the fair skin of princesses. Beauty is strongly linked to goodness, and ugliness to evil. For example, in one story, a widow had one daughter who was "beautiful and industrious" and another who was "ugly and lazy." This shows how ugliness is punished and beauty is rewarded. Beauty is also linked to race and social class. In "The White Bride and the Black Bride," the mother and daughter are "cursed" with blackness and ugliness, linking black color to not being pretty. Stories like "Snow White" highlight how fair skin leads to a prince being attracted to her "beauty."

Major media outlets have often shown Black families as troubled and dependent, while white families are shown as stable. This can make people think that poverty is mainly a Black issue, which can reduce support for social programs.

African Americans with lighter skin and "European features" (like lighter eyes, smaller noses, and lips) often get more chances in the media industry. Film and TV producers tend to hire lighter-skinned Black actors, and magazines often choose Black models who look more European. Some ads have even used animal print with African American women, which can reinforce harmful stereotypes. Darker-skinned Black men are also more likely to be shown as violent or threatening in the media, which can affect how people see them.

The absence of people of color in media, where they should normally be present, is also called "erasure."

Politics

A 2011 study found that white politicians from both major parties were less likely to respond to messages from people with African American names.

Some research suggests that white voters' voting behavior can be influenced by racial concerns. For example, a 2016 study found that white voter turnout decreased in Chicago when public housing was rebuilt and many African Americans moved out.

Voter ID laws have been accused of racial discrimination. Some studies found that these laws reduced voting by minorities, while others found no significant impact. Black and Hispanic voters were more likely to be asked for ID during elections.

Studies also show that voters can have racial biases. For example, white voters sometimes wrongly think that minority political candidates are more extreme in their views than they actually are. This can hurt those candidates' chances in elections.

Beauty

Studies show that because of what society values, many people connect beauty with lighter skin. This is especially true for children. This belief can make dark-skinned children feel ashamed or inferior when compared to people with lighter skin. African American women sometimes believe they would have better luck dating if they had lighter skin, especially when dating African American men.

Beauty pageants around the world judge women based on certain beauty ideals. These competitions often focus on a very limited idea of beauty, ignoring diversity. Even though pageants have tried to be more diverse, they often still favor a white, middle-class idea of femininity. Some academies that train women for these pageants can harm their mental and physical health.

While some see beauty ideals as unfair, many women willingly participate and feel that being beautiful is empowering. Achieving the "beauty ideal," like having a light skin tone, is still a main way for girls and women to gain social status and self-esteem. Studies show that most women feel good if they look good. So, self-confidence often revolves around these beauty ideals. Women who use makeup to achieve a lighter skin tone might be seen more positively at work, while those who don't meet this standard might face discrimination.

Advertising campaigns and cosmetic brands also promote the idea that being white and fair-skinned is superior, encouraging the use of fairness creams. In India, skin whitening products are bestsellers. Bollywood films also play a big part in making light-skinned heroines seem ideal.

European beauty standards continue to have a lasting impact in American society, affecting not only African American women, children, and men, but also people from other countries. A famous study called the "Doll Test" by Kenneth and Mamie Clark showed this. In this experiment, Black children aged three to seven were shown two identical dolls, one Black and one white. Two-thirds of the children said they liked the white dolls better, even though they were Black themselves. This experiment has been repeated over the years and often shows a clear preference for the lighter-skinned doll, suggesting that some Black children internalize negative feelings about their own skin color because of these European beauty standards. The study also found that a child's home and family life can greatly influence their ideas of beauty.

Sports

A 2018 study found that non-Black voters in Heisman Trophy voting (for college football's best player) were biased against non-Black players. A 2021 study found that Black NBA players were 30% more likely to leave the league each season than white players with similar statistics. A 2019 study found that sports commentators were more likely to talk about the mental skills of lighter-skinned basketball players and the physical abilities of darker-skinned players.

A 2020 report found that football commentators were more likely to praise white players for their intelligence and leadership, while criticizing Black players for lacking those qualities. Black players were praised much more often for their strength and speed.

Images for kids

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  Graphic of Indian caste system, displaying social classes and subcategories.

See also

In Spanish: Colorismo para niños