colorism
Skin tone bias
Colorism is discrimination based on skin tone, typically favoring lighter skin over darker skin within the same racial or ethnic group.
Unlike racism, which operates between racial categories, colorism creates hierarchies within them: She faced colorism from her own family for being darker than her siblings.
The phenomenon appears across many cultures and often intersects with standards of beauty, economic opportunity, and social status.
Skin tone, appearance
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- melaninNatural coloring compound
- toneQuality of sound
- fairImpartial and unbiased
dark · light · bleaching · whitening · tanning · hyperpigmentation · albinism · vitiligo
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
segregation · hierarchy · casteism · intolerance · ostracism · stereotyping · microaggressions · preferential treatment
Preferential treatment of some
- dark-skinnedHaving deep complexion
- stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
beauty standards · desirability · Eurocentric · whitewashing · internalized · self-hatred · judgment · assumptions
Unequal distribution of resources
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
institutional · structural · socioeconomic · underrepresentation · disadvantage · Hollywood · Bollywood · fashion industry
State of perceiving reality
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- representationDepiction or likeness
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
complexion
Skin tone, appearance
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- melaninNatural coloring compound
- toneQuality of sound
fair · dark · light · bleaching · whitening · tanning · hyperpigmentation · albinism · vitiligo · dusky
prejudice
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
unfairness · segregation · hierarchy · casteism · intolerance · ostracism · stereotyping · microaggressions · preferential treatment
favoritism
Preferential treatment of some
- dark-skinnedHaving deep complexion
- stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
preference · beauty standards · desirability · Eurocentric · whitewashing · internalized · self-hatred · judgment · assumptions · media portrayal
inequality
Unequal distribution of resources
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
stratification · institutional · structural · socioeconomic · underrepresentation · disadvantage · Hollywood · Bollywood · fashion industry · modeling
awareness
State of perceiving reality
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- representationDepiction or likeness
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
accountability · education · allyship · social justice · intersectionality
- BrazilRio, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Amazon River
- discriminationracism, systemic discrimination, Jim Crow laws, sexism, racial harassment
- racismracism, racial bias, white supremacy, racial discrimination, bigotry
- biasprejudice, racism, bigotry, sexism, ageism
- Latina IdentityChicana, mestiza, Afro-Latina, hyphenated identity, belonging
- racial injusticesystemic racism, institutional racism, racial profiling, racial bias, discrimination
colorismracial equality
Equal treatment regardless of ancestry
color-blindness · equal treatment · non-discrimination · egalitarianism · impartiality
- coloring bookPages with outlined illustrations
- food coloringDye for consumables
- hair coloringAltering strand pigmentation
- coloring pageOutlined picture for filling
- coloring inside the linesAdhering to prescribed limits
- coloring outside the linesDeliberate deviation from expectations