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Abstract
The influence of Hispanic parental processes on daughters' intimate relationships have been widely studied in the psychology literature. However, although skin color values have been found to directly inform dating preferences, research examining the influence of parental skin color beliefs is non-existent. Thirty-four emerging adult Hispanic women participated in this qualitative study which examined their beliefs about parental skin color beliefs on dating preference decision-making processes. The study revealed that parents encouraged daughters to select partners with lighter skin. Significant differences between the ways parents and daughters constructed skin color meanings were noted, although daughters' potential partner skin color preferences were mixed. Results indicate that cultural competency training for clinicians should include understandings of meanings and values given to skin color. Therapeutic considerations for addressing skin color concerns with Hispanic female clients, including parental influences, within group differences and validation of skin color values, are addressed.
Notes
1We recognize that there is a debate between the use of the terms Hispanic and Latino. The term Hispanic was created by the United States government to identify people “who speak, are affected by or are Spanish- like” (Suro, Citation2006). It is incorrectly used to also identify other non- Spanish speaking nationalities such as Brazilians; this lack of cultural appropriateness is one of the critiques raised about the term Hispanic. However, as the interviews for the present study were conducted in an urban center where the majority of residents—including the study participants—primarily self identify as Hispanic, we use this term in the present article.