Content area
Full Text
Abstract: Skin completion has impacted the lives, life chances, and life choices of African American women for centuries. Skin complexion partiality has been an entrenched issue in the African American community. More generally, skin complexion has a history of impacting race relations in America. In fact, positive characteristics are attributed to those with lighter skin while those who with darker complexions are frequently placed into stereotypical categories and judged severly by their physical appearance. The authors investigate colorism and its effects on African American women's life outcomes. This article provides current data on young women's (between the ages of 18-23) perceptions of colorism. This article also examines the correlation between women with high self-esteem (regardless of their skin complexion) and high achievements in measures of social capital. The study was guided by four research questions: 1) Is skin tone a predictive factor for African American women's social outcomes? 2) To what extent do African-American women distinguish between light and dark complexions? 3) Is there a significant relationship between a woman's skin complexion and her self-esteem? And 4) Is the issue of colorism still relevant in the twenty first century. Because colorism is further complicated by racism, classism, and sexism, its paradoxical consequences impact African American women's self-esteem, identity, and social capital.
Keywords: skin complexion; colorism; self-esteem; racism; skin color stratification; African American women
There is an existing beauty standard characterized by skin complexion among African Americans that erodes the framework of cultural identity, inclusion, mobility, and social acceptance. This phenomenon has plagued the African-American community since the period of slavery continues to hold true in today's society. Although it is well established that American society has an intricate history in regards to race relations, an equally important matter has not been given significant attention. The main characteristic that continues to separate the dominant groups from the non-dominant groups is skin color (Hunter, 2002; Azibo, 2014). Moreover, it "is apparent that colorist ideology is based on not just skin pigmentation but all highly correlated physical trait[s]-hair texture, eye color and facial features" (Cain, 2006:1). In addition to macro (societal) influences, colorism is also imparted at the mirco level as one's family shapes a person's identity, perspectives, and life experiences, materializing within the socialization process (Wilder...