Race/Ethnicity, Perceived Skin Color, and the Likelihood of Adult Arrest

Abstract

Research has long-documented racial/ethnic disparities in criminal justice outcomes. However, despite race/ethnicity being a multidimensional social construct, prior research largely relies on self-identification measures, thereby disregarding research on skin tone stratification within-racial/ethnic groups. The current study extends beyond this by examining the relationship between race/ethnicity and arrest employing both self-identified race/ethnicity and perceived skin color. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we explore the main and intersecting effects of self-identified race/ethnicity and perceived skin color on experiencing an arrest in adulthood between- and within-self-identified Whites, Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians. We use structural disadvantage as a framework for exploring how social structural factors as well as antisocial behavior mediate the relationship between race/ethnicity/color and arrest. Results suggest that focusing on the racial/ethnic disparities alone masks differences in arrest by color and that the effect of color varies by race/ethnicity. Results also suggest that measures indicative of disadvantage, but not offending, partially explain these associations.

Dark faces in white spaces: The effects of skin tone, race, ethnicity, and intergroup preferences on interpersonal judgments and voting behavior

“…In the USA, one of the perceived central characteristics of leadership is being White (Rosette et al., 2008), which leads White leaders to be evaluated more favorably than their lighter‐skinned counterparts (Eagly & Karau, 2002; Ensary & Murphy, 2003). Given vast research linking positive perceptions to Whiteness, it is not surprising that, within the same racial groups, individuals with lighter skin tones are punished less harshly in academic settings (Hannon et al., 2013), have fewer negative confrontations with the criminal justice system (e.g., Finkeldey & Demuth, 2019; Monk, 2019), and feel better physically and psychologically (e.g., Laidley et al., 2019; Louie, 2020).…”

Motivations for Seeking Laser Tattoo Removal and Perceived Outcomes as Reported by Justice Involved Adults

“…Importantly, however, tattoo removal should be considered as one element of comprehensive programing that addresses JIA’s emotional, social, and economic needs (e.g., educational support, job readiness, access to physical and behavioral health care, housing, executive function, and soft skill building; Bunn, 2019 ; LeBel, 2012b ). Finally, nearly three-quarters of this sample included JIA from racial/ethnic minority groups reflecting over-policing in the U.S. of African American, Black, and Latino communities ( Finkeldey & Demuth, 2019 ; Gase et al, 2016 ). JIA experience overlapping social identities due to membership in diverse social groups (e.g., justice system involvement, gender, racial/ethnic group membership, and low socioeconomic status; LeBel, 2012a ; Moradi & Grzanka, 2017 ; Nowotny & Kuptsevych Timmer, 2018 ).…”

The Gender of Colorism: Understanding the Intersection of Skin Tone and Gender Inequality

“…The near ubiquity of colorism has been well researched, particularly among black Americans, although the phenomenon has been documented in almost every country in the world (Hunter 2005). In addition to wages and income, relative to darker skinned black Americans, lighter skinned black Americans have been shown to enjoy better mental and physical health (Diette et al 2015;Hargrove 2018a, b;Laidley et al 2019;Louie 2019;Monk 2015;Perreira et al 2018), experience fewer negative encounters with the criminal justice system (Blair et al 2004;Finkeldey and Demuth 2019;Monk 2018;Viglione et al 2011), are punished less and less harshly in schools (Hannon et al 2013), and are viewed as more attractive (Reece 2016). Moreover, the pernicious effects of colorism have remained persistent since before emancipation, operating through a system of light skin preference and long-term accumulated economic advantage (Bodenhorn 2002(Bodenhorn , 2006(Bodenhorn , 2011Bodenhorn 2007;Green and Hamilton 2013;Gullickson 2010;Reece 2018a, b;Saperstein and Gullickson 2013).…”

“…As we continue to establish that color stratification is a constant throughout American society, we must also develop our understanding of how it works. Although we have made recent strides in developing theories to explain the mechanisms (such as Goldsmith et al 2007;Hargrove 2018a, b;Finkeldey and Demuth 2019;Louie 2019;Monk 2015;Painter et al 2015;Reece 2018a, b, c), we still have ways to go. One vital step is to examine how different groups are affected by color stratification.…”