Journal Article, Uses data from a nationally representative panel survey of Mexican adults to examine the extent of skin color based social stratification in contemporary Mexico. Despite extreme ambiguity in skin color classification, the author finds considerable agreement among survey interviewers about who belongs to three skin color categories. The results also provide evidence of profound social stratification by skin color. Individuals with darker skin tone have significantly lower levels of educational attainment and occupational status, and they are more likely to live in poverty and less likely to be affluent, even after controlling for other individual characteristics.
