D'ster
08-19-06, 10:46 PM
Skin tone important for black job seekers
ATLANTA, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. study indicates dark-skinned African-Americans face a distinct disadvantage when applying for jobs.
The study by a doctoral student at the University of Georgia found skin tone more important than educational background for African-Americans seeking jobs, even if they have resumes superior to lighter-skinned black applicants.
Matthew Harrison presented his research Tuesday in Atlanta during the 66th annual meeting of the Academy of Management.
Harrison's research is believed to be the first significant study of "colorism" in the American workplace.
"We found that a light-skinned black male can have only a bachelor's degree and typical work experience and still be preferred over a dark-skinned black male with an MBA and past managerial positions, simply because expectations of the light-skinned black male are much higher, and he doesn't appear as 'menacing' as the darker-skinned male applicant," Harrison said.
While there have been other studies of effects of colorism socially, Harrison said his is the first designed specifically to examine how it operates in hiring and in the workplace.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060817-095002-2426r
Does this mean that Albinos always will get hired?
ATLANTA, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. study indicates dark-skinned African-Americans face a distinct disadvantage when applying for jobs.
The study by a doctoral student at the University of Georgia found skin tone more important than educational background for African-Americans seeking jobs, even if they have resumes superior to lighter-skinned black applicants.
Matthew Harrison presented his research Tuesday in Atlanta during the 66th annual meeting of the Academy of Management.
Harrison's research is believed to be the first significant study of "colorism" in the American workplace.
"We found that a light-skinned black male can have only a bachelor's degree and typical work experience and still be preferred over a dark-skinned black male with an MBA and past managerial positions, simply because expectations of the light-skinned black male are much higher, and he doesn't appear as 'menacing' as the darker-skinned male applicant," Harrison said.
While there have been other studies of effects of colorism socially, Harrison said his is the first designed specifically to examine how it operates in hiring and in the workplace.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060817-095002-2426r
Does this mean that Albinos always will get hired?