Being Dark-Skinned and Poor in Brazil: The Intersectionality of Skin Color, Income, and Gender

Abstract

I investigated the stereotypes of Brazilians identified as black using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods–unobtrusive observation, 12 informal interviews, and a content analysis of 33 newspaper issues and 26 magazine issues. The results of my analyses indicate that skin color is more important than racial classification in relation to stereotypes. Certain stereotypes are more applicable to darker skinned Brazilians, while others are only applicable to race. The Brazilian media oscillated between presenting a more egalitarian view of Brazilians of all colors in prominent positions and replicating stereotypes. In general, darker skinned Brazilian males were likely to experience negative consequences of stereotypes due to their gender, skin color and socioeconomic status.