Table of ContentsColorism in an Adolescent's Social LifeColorism in an Adolescent's Academic LifeConclusionColorism is the prejudice and/or discrimination that occurs in due to complexion. Colorism has been ingrained in American ideology since the antebellum period in South America. A University of Pennsylvania professor and associate director jointly concluded that "throughout slavery, the belief that lighter-skinned blacks were best suited for intellectual and skilled tasks was common, because Assignments between slaves intersected with color…light-skinned black women. were described as smarter, kinder, gentler, more attractive, and most often described as more delicate than darker-skinned Black women” (Gasman and Abiola, 2016, p. 40-41). The same characteristics described by Gasman and Abiola are found in today's society; those with lighter skin are favored, while those with darker skin are frowned upon. Colorism has touched most areas of American society today and has unfortunately reached the American school system, thereby ingraining the idea in the minds of countless adolescents. Colorism not only influences the decisions teens make, but also affects many teens academically and socially. These effects can be seen in African American, Asian American, Hispanic, and Latino communities; however, this report focuses on the African American community (Keith & Monroe, 2016). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Colorism in a Teenager's Social Life Colorism affects a teen's ability to communicate and represent themselves within a group by limiting the status of darker-skinned teens. Tasha, a dark-skinned African-American high school student, gave an interview in which she said, “'I don't wish I was white. I just wish I was a lot lighter [skinned]. All the light-skinned kids in my school are smart” (Mcgee, Alvarez & Milner, 2016, p. 70). Their study presents the perspective of a student who feels less than because of her skin color. This aligns with a study by sociology professor Margaret Hunter: "People regularly attribute other positive traits to people they perceive as physically attractive... Lighter-skinned people of color, who are often considered as more physically attractive due to racist comments. beauty standards, are more likely to be judged as intelligent and kind” (2016, p. 56). Tasha, according to Hunter's work, had fallen victim to the theoretical construct known as the halo effect. Gasman and Abiola's study concluded that fairer individuals were perceived as more attractive, which, according to Hunter's halo effect, would result in the attribution of positive characteristics. The constant comparison between lighter and darker individuals produces a feeling of inferiority in the darker individuals. The halo effect causes many darker people to feel inferior to their peers because their skin tone is generally not associated with positive characteristics, nor valued like that of lighter-skinned people. McGee, Alvarez, and Milner's interviews yielded similar results; Darker-skinned female students felt that there was a negative connotation associated with their skin tone. Darker individuals were also more stressed due to these associationsnegative (Mcgee et al., 2016). Their heightened stress can have a negative impact on their mental health, as well as their educational outcomes. Negative associations also impact important high school events, such as prom, because darker people will be less likely to be considered for such events. A study conducted by partners with social equity backgrounds found that “racialized experiences are complex and diverse” (Bentley-Edwards & Stevenson, 2016, p. 106). Their study was conducted in a social setting; The research can still be applied to the American school system, because schools are places where socialization is common and expected. In their article, the effects of racialized experiences were primarily negative psychological effects toward the victim. These findings, although conducted for a different purpose, represent the feelings of adolescents in the work of McGee, Alvarez, and Milner; Women reported that their stress was intensified due to negative associations with their skin tone, which is the same effect seen in racialized experiences. Negative psychological experiences are also likely the result of the halo effect and constant comparisons. Colorism in a teenager's academic lifeStress and feelings of social inferiority also play a role in academic success. Any stress resulting from social experiences negatively impacts a teenager's ability to succeed in and outside of school. The social inferiority granted to darker individuals leads to discouragement, which will result in a lack of motivation, essential to academic success. Although the stress and social inferiority discussed above can have an effect on academic achievement, this section will attenuate the links between social effects and academic effects. Colorism is still present among academics, regardless of its social implications. Carla Monroe, researcher in the social context of human experiences, explains how skin tone impacts educational disparities: “Researchers know that skin tone is a mediating variable in income, occupational status, educational attainment and Black Relations” (Monroe, 2016, p. , 48). All of these factors have an effect on academics, as Monroe and Keith, a sociology professor, explain: "The links between skin tone and socioeconomic status are particularly noteworthy, because students from affluent backgrounds can benefit from the resources that their family can provide them. High-income parents can afford to reside in neighborhoods reserved for the most preferable public schools; that is, institutions that are most likely to have highly qualified teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, extensive course offerings, and a wide choice of extracurricular activities” (Keith and Monroe , 2016, p. Many variables affected by skin tone also affect the quality of education for adolescents. It also means that these parents are able to afford more study aid and tutoring, allowing their children to get more out of their education. Those who are negatively affected by these factors are often darker individuals, leaving their adolescents with much less chance of academic success. Fairer individuals have also been found to have advantages in career choices and marriage (Keith & Monroe, 2016), supporting the assertion that lighter individuals have an advantage in terms of of academic success. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get.