Phenotype and Life Chances Among Chicanos

Data from a national Chicano survey with nearly 1000 respondents were examined to test the hypothesis that because of internal (intragroup) and external (intergroup) discrimination, both past and present, Mexican Americans with a European physical appearance will have more enhanced life chances as measured by higher socioeconomic status than Mexican Americans with an indigenous Native American physical appearance. Two variables, skin color and physical features, were combined into a composite variable of observed phenotype. When observed phenotype was correlated with indicators of socioeconomic status, the hypothesis was largely confirmed.