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Cultural Predictors of Facial Ethnicity Preference in the Miskitu and Mestizos of Rural Nicaragua

Jucker, J. -L.; Thornborrow, T.; Batres, C.; Penton-Voak, I. M.; Jamieson, M. A.; Burt, D. M.; Bowie, W. N.; Tovée, M. J.; Boothroyd, L. G.

Cultural Predictors of Facial Ethnicity Preference in the Miskitu and Mestizos of Rural Nicaragua Thumbnail


Authors

J. -L. Jucker

T. Thornborrow

C. Batres

I. M. Penton-Voak

M. A. Jamieson

D. M. Burt

W. N. Bowie

M. J. Tovée



Abstract

Both basic visual experience and cultural associations with race and ethnicity may contribute to the extent observers do or do not favor some facial ethnicity cues over others. Given that visual media contain a highly biased selection of faces, with Whiteness both over-represented and strongly privileged in film and television, communities for whom visual media are relatively novel may experience an additional, pervasive source of attitudes to facial ethnicity markers. In the current research, we compared individuals of Mestizo and Miskitu identities living in communities on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua with, and without, regular access to television on their relative preference for facial stimuli manipulated to look more or less White (Black vs White, Black vs Mestizo, Mestizo vs White). Results showed that all communities showed an overall preference for images with lighter skin, although changes in facial shape did not affect preferences. Those who had attended more years of education preferred whiter faces than those with less education, and those who watched more television preferred whiter faces more only where color (rather than shape) had been manipulated. Results are discussed in terms of the broader relations around ethnicity, status, and technological transition in this area.

Citation

Jucker, J. .-L., Thornborrow, T., Batres, C., Penton-Voak, I. M., Jamieson, M. A., Burt, D. M., …Boothroyd, L. G. (2024). Cultural Predictors of Facial Ethnicity Preference in the Miskitu and Mestizos of Rural Nicaragua. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 55(3), 292-307. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221241232674

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 1, 2024
Online Publication Date Feb 29, 2024
Publication Date Apr 1, 2024
Deposit Date Mar 26, 2024
Publicly Available Date Mar 27, 2024
Journal Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
Print ISSN 0022-0221
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 55
Issue 3
Pages 292-307
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221241232674
Keywords colorism, Garifuna, television, media, Miskitu, Miskito, Mestizo
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2346192

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