IndexColorism in an adolescent's social lifeColorism in an adolescent's academic lifeConclusionColorism is prejudice and/or discrimination that occurs because of skin tone. Colorism has been ingrained in American ideology since the antebellum period in South America. A professor and an associate director at the University of Pennsylvania together concluded that "during slavery the belief that lighter-skinned blacks were better suited for intellectual and skilled tasks was common, as slave assignments intersected with those of color…light-skinned black women were portrayed as smarter, kinder, gentler, more attractive, and more frequently described as more delicate than darker-skinned black women” (Gasman & 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 today and, unfortunately, has reached the American school system, thus ingraining the idea in the minds of countless teenagers Colorism not only influences the decisions made by teenagers, but also affects many teenagers both 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Colorism in a teenager's social life Colorism affects a teenager's ability to communicate and represent himself within a group by limiting the status of teenagers with darker skin. Tasha, a dark-skinned African American student, gave an interview in which she said, “'I have no desire to be white. I just wish I had much lighter skin. All the light-skinned kids in my school are smart'” (Mcgee, Alvarez & Milner, 2016, p. 70). Their study shows the perspective of a student, who feels like she is inferior because of her skin tone. This correlates with a study conducted by Margaret Hunter, professor of sociology: “People routinely attribute other positive traits to people they perceive as physically attractive… Lighter-skinned people of color, who are often seen as more physically attractive at cause of racist attitudes. beauty standards, are more likely to be judged 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 sense of inferiority in darker individuals. The halo effect causes many darker individuals to feel inferior to their peers because their skin tone is not usually associated with positive characteristics, nor as valued as that of lighter-skinned individuals. McGee, Alvarez, and Milner's interviews yielded similar results; darker-skinned female students felt there was a negative connotation associated with their skin tone. Darker individuals were also more stressed due to these negative associations ( McGee et al., 2016 ). Their intense stress can have a negative impact on themmental health, along with their performance in an educational context. Negative associations also impact important high school events, such as prom, as darker individuals will be less likely to be considered for such events. A study conducted by partners with expertise in social equity found that “racialized experiences are complex and diverse” (Bentley-Edwards & Stevenson, 2016, p. 106). Their study was conducted in a social context; research can still be applied to the American school system, because schools are places where socialization is common and expected. The effects of racialized experiences in their article were mostly negative psychological effects towards the victim. These findings, although conducted for a different purpose, represent the feelings of adolescents in McGee, Alvarez, and Milner's work; the women said their stress was heightened due to negative associations with skin tone, which is the same effect found in racialized experiences. Negative psychological experiences are also likely the result of the halo effect and constant comparisons. Colorism in a teenager's academic life Stress and a sense of social inferiority also play a role in academic success. All the stress from social experiences has a negative impact on a teenager's ability to behave in and out of school. The social inferiority attributed to darker individuals causes discouragement, which will result in a lack of motivation, which is essential for academic success. Although the stress and social inferiority discussed above can have an effect on academic success, this section will mitigate the connections between Social Effects and Academic Effects. Colorism is still evident in academics, regardless of its social implications. Carla Monroe, a researcher in the social context of human experiences, discusses how skin tone affects educational disparities: "Scholars know that skin tone is a mediating variable in Black income, employment status, educational attainment, and in relationships” (Monroe, 2016, pg , 48). All of these factors have an effect on academics, as Monroe and Keith, a sociology professor, argue: “The connections between complexion and socioeconomic status are particularly noteworthy, as students from wealthy families may benefit from the resources their families can provide . High-income parents can afford to reside in neighborhoods that are more preferable public school districts; that is, institutions that are more likely to have highly qualified teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, a broad course offering, and a broad selection of extracurricular activities” (Keith & Monroe, 2016, p. 5). Many of the variables that affect skin tone also affect the quality of education for adolescents. This also implies that these parents are able to afford more study subsidies and educational assistance, 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 far fewer opportunities for academic success. It was also found that leaner individuals had advantages in career and marriage options (Keith & Monroe, 2016), which reinforces the assertion that leaner individuals are given an advantage in educational success. Please note: this is just an example. Get an article habit now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Colorism has an effect.