Phenotypic Heterogeneity and the Unviability of Latino as a Unit of Analysis

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on the impact of phenotype on those classified as Latino to ascertain whether Latino is a suitable unit of analysis. The literature shows that phenotype has statistically significant effects on educational attainment, wages, job prestige, and other life outcomes; further those with more European phenotypes generally have more favorable life outcomes. These differences are obscured when Latino is used as a unit of analysis, suggesting that Latino is not a viable unit of analysis. Using Latino as a unit of analysis serves to misallocate resources intended to benefit victims of racial discrimination to Latinos with European phenotypes, as well as hiding the impact of discrimination on those with African or Amerindian phenotypes. The origin of Latino as a political term that attempted to distance and at the same time bring its members closer to whiteness makes its failure as a scientific tool unsurprising. Further research is needed on the impact of phenotype, and other areas of heterogeneity such as culture, religion, and language. This article explores whether the classification of a phenotypically heterogeneous population as Latino, is sufficient to counter the importance that race, or phenotype has historically held in the United States in determining life outcomes. If all members of the