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Researching Race in Chile
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 September 2022
Abstract
Job-market discrimination research in the United States and Europe measures discrimination by a majority against racial minorities, discrimination that stems from historical patterns of inequality and privilege. Chilean researchers have applied these models to study class-based discrimination, finding some evidence to support its existence. Their innovative methods make race as well as class visible, and contradictions in their work show racial differences among Chileans. This research note highlights the interesting research from a new generation of labor economists who have simultaneously pushed the sanctioned limits of social debate and reaffirmed dominant explanations of inequality. Critical race theory is useful for making sense of the contradictions in their work and, it is argued, can improve the quality of Chilean social science research so as to reach a more accurate and self-reflective understanding of the sources and effects of inequality in Chile.
Resumen
Estudios de discriminación en el mercado laboral en Estados Unidos y Europa miden discriminación por una mayoría contra una minoría racial, producto de patrones históricos de desigualdad y privilegio. Investigadores chilenos han adaptado estos modelos para estudiar discriminación por clase social, encontrando en algunos casos que ésta existe. Sus métodos también hacen visible la discriminación en virtud de la raza, y a través de las contradicciones en sus trabajos, diferencias raciales entre chilenos. Esta nota revisa el interesante trabajo de estos jóvenes economistas, que al tiempo que arrojan datos y métodos novedosos que desafían las narrativas académicas y sociales establecidas, reafirman las explicaciones dominantes sobre desigualdad. Los estudios críticos de raza (critical race theory) aportan conceptos que descifran las contradicciones presentes en estos estudios y, se argumenta aquí, pueden fortalecer la investigación social en Chile, para así llegar a una comprensión más reflexiva y profunda sobre las fuentes y efectos de la desigualdad en Chile.
- Type
- Research Reports and Notes
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2012 by the Latin American Studies Association
Footnotes
For their incisive comments and encouragement, I particularly thank the three anonymous LARR reviewers, Professor Jeff Romm, his graduate and undergraduate students, and the attendants of the session on the public and science in Latin America at the Social Studies of Science (4S) Conference in October 2009. All errors are of course my own responsibility.
References
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