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Concept
Discrimination based on skin color
Summary
Discrimination based on skin color, also known as colourism, or shadeism, is a form of prejudice and discrimination in which people of certain ethnic groups or people who are perceived as belonging to a darker skinned race are treated differently based on their darker skin color. Although less historically significant, prejudice can also be applied towards lighter-skinned people, which is known as reverse colourism. Alternatively, some claim that reverse colourism is a misnomer, as it is still discrimination based on color; alternate terms have been coined for colorism against people in minority positions, such as oppressive colourism or systemic colourism, in order to distinguish the difference between colourism, oppressive colourism, and reverse colourism.
Colourism focuses on how racism has manifested itself in the psychology of a people, and how it affects their concept of beauty, wealth, and privilege. A key difference between racism and colorism is that while racism deals with the subjugation of one group by another or the belief in racial supremacy, colorism deals with in-group discrimination in addition to between-group discrimination.
Research has uncovered extensive evidence of discrimination based on skin colour in criminal justice, business, the economy, housing, health care, media, and politics in the United States and Europe. Lighter skin tones are seen as preferable in many countries in Africa, Asia and South America.
Racism by country
Racism affects almost every aspect of people's daily lives. Research shows that people of color are offered fewer opportunities in higher education and employment than white people are offered. Black people are treated more harshly and less politely than white people are treated. As romantic partners, they are considered less desirable and white people are considered more desirable. They also receive compromised medical treatment.
Several meta-analyses find extensive evidence of ethnic and racial discrimination in hiring in the North American and European labor markets.
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