Women of Color and Discrimination

Women of color in the United States, including American Indian/Native American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latin American, and Asian/Pacific Islander women, face a number of challenges that constrain their lives and put them at risk for a wide range of negative consequences. One of these challenges includes disproportionate experiences with discrimination. Discrimination refers to systemic (socially structured) unfair treatment targeted at members of socially subordinate groups by institutions and individuals, which preserves and bolsters privileges conferred on those of [Page 1824]the dominant group at the expense of members from subordinate groups. Although a growing body of psychological research exists on the role of discrimination in the lives of people of color, much less has centered on the experiences of women of color. Yet considerable research points to ...