Age, Gender and Social Class Influences on Skin Colour Preferences Among Mozambican Children

Abstract

This study examined skin colour preferences among Mozambican children (N = 500; male = 48% and females = 52%; middle-high SES = 48% and low SES = 52%; mean age = 7.34 and SD = 1.80). The children selected preferred skin hue with the same facial image in colours: dark skinned (‘Black’), fairly light skinned (‘mixed’) and very light skinned (‘White’). Data were analysed using chi-square tests of differences between proportions. The younger children preferred the very light skin colour, as compared to fairly light skin and dark skin respectively. Older children preferred darker skin colour more, although darker skin colour was less preferred overall. Children seem to prefer novel skin colour at younger ages.