The Shades of Inequality: Race/Ethnicity, Skin Tone, and Socioeconomic Status

Abstract Background . The social costs of skin tone inequality in the United States are substantial and can, at times, be as great as – or greater – than that of the Black-White divide. One area where the effects of both racial/ethnic and skin tone stratification can be clearly seen is in the study of socioeconomic inequalities. Method . Using the 2015 Texas Diversity Survey, we carry out not only within-group analysis for racial/ethnic subsamples but also break out these groups by skin tone. Results . Our results allow us to offer insight into how colorism may operate to differentially shape socioeconomic outcomes within racial/ethnic groups. Implications . We conclude by discussing how focusing on a specific location can provide insight into how place matters, whereas assessing colorism at a national level potentially erases place-based diversity of economic outcomes for racial/ethnic groups.