| Summary: | By 2065 Latinos will approximately comprise 25% of the United States' population (Pew Hispanic Center, 2015). Among this racially diverse ethnic group are increasing numbers of Latinos who identify as White. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 53% of Latinos identified as White alone. Yet little is known about White skin color among Latinos and whether McIntoshs (1988) discussion of White privilege, including attitudes and beliefs, applies to Latinos. Through use of the Feminist Ecological Model (Ballou, Matsumoto, & Wagner, 2002), the sociocultural factors that impact the awareness of White privilege among Latinos were explored. A correlational research design was utilized to examine the existence of White privilege, colorblind attitudes, and internalized racism among Latinos. Results revealed that Latinos who identify as White and whose skin ranges from 1-3 on the NIS did not report benefiting from White Privilege. Additionally, results revealed that Latinos, irrespective of skin color or racial identification, endorse moderate colorblind racial attitudes (CoBRAS, 2000). High endorsement of colorblind racial attitudes related to higher rates of internalized racism. These findings suggest that there is an urgent need to further explore skin color and racial identity and its ramifications on mental health, educational attainment, and self-concept. Clinicians are encouraged to acknowledge within group differences among Latinos and provide clients with the tools needed to cope with discrimination.
|
|---|
