This research project received funding through the 2024-2025 Institute for Diversity Science Seed Grant Program
Principal Investigator: Jirs Meuris, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Co-Investigators: Alexis Avery, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Abstract: Although prior studies have shown widespread inequality in health and well-being originating from differences in skin tone, even for those within the same racial group, this is often attributed to more frequent experiences of discrimination. We propose a complementary explanation: legacy beliefs of task segregation based on skin tone persist in the labor market resulting in darker-skinned individuals being viewed as a better fit for dangerous, dirty, or risky work tasks and environments. Initial evidence for our prediction was found examining occupational sorting across two national surveys and sorting into positions with a higher probability of concussion among approximately 15,000 college football players. Additional research will focus on establishing causal relationships and identifying the underlying mechanisms.