Phenotypic Bias and Ethnic Identity in Filipino Americans^*

Abstract

Objective Links between phenotypes (skin tone, physical features) and a range of outcomes (income, physical health, psychological distress) were examined. Ethnic identity was examined as a protective moderator of phenotypic bias. Method Data were from a community sample of 2,092 Filipino adults in San Francisco and Honolulu. Results After controlling for age, nativity, marital status, and education, darker skin was associated with lower income and lower physical health for females and males. For females, more ethnic features were associated with lower income. For males, darker skin was related to lower psychological distress. One interaction was found such that females with more ethnic features exhibited lower distress; however, ethnic identity moderated distress levels of those with less ethnic features. Conclusions Phenotypic bias appears prevalent in Filipino Americans though specific effects vary by gender and skin color versus physical features. Discussion centers on the social importance of appearance and potential strengths gained from ethnic identification.

Socially-Assigned Race, Healthcare Discrimination and Preventive Healthcare Services

“…Our findings of relative socioeconomic privilege among the M/W group may reflect the continued legacy of racism and skin colour prejudices that are perpetuated in the United States. For example, there is substantial evidence that among racial/ethnic minorities, darker skin pigmentation is associated with lower educational attainment, occupational status, and income [36], [37], and is adversely associated with health outcomes such as mortality risk [38], and self-reported physical health [39]. Therefore, being a minority who is perceived as non-Hispanic white may confer both socioeconomic and healthcare advantages.…”

Critical Race Theories, Colorism, and the Decade's Research on Families of Color

“…Conceptual interests in families and colorism resulted in measurement modifications that greatly improved data collection efforts. Several large surveys, such as the National Survey of American Life (see J. S. Jackson et al, 2004) and the Filipino American Community Epidemiological Survey (FACES; see Kiang & Takeuchi, 2009) asked both respondents and interviewers to rate respondents' skin tone. This was an important development in survey research involving families of color.…”

“…Several studies also demonstrated a strong relationship between skin color and income. Dark skinned Filipino Americans (Kiang & Takeuchi, 2009), Cuban Americans (Espino & Franz, 2002), and African Americans (Goldsmith, Hamilton, & Darity, 2007) were more likely to have lower income and wages than their lighter skinned counterparts and than Whites.…”

Phenotypic Variations in Violence Involvement: Results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

“…When Latinos and Asian Americans from various ethnic groups began to share their experiences of racism and colorism, it became clear that colorism affects every racial-ethnic group where there is skin tone variation. A second wave of literature, which started with the Civil Rights Era and continues to the present day, has raised the awareness of the fact that colorism is a pervasive problem for people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds (Hunter, 2007;Kiang & Takeuchi, 2009;Leong, 2006;Montalvo & Codina, 2001).…”