Challenges to Affirmative Action: An Analysis of Skin Color and Verification at the Universidade Federal do Paraná in BrazilPosted in Articles, Brazil, Campus Life, Caribbean/Latin America, Media Archive, Politics/Public Policy on 2013-03-10 22:21Z by Steven |
Journal of Undergraduate Research
University of Florida
Volume 14, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)
8 pages
Laura Hundersmarck
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
University of Florida
Historically, Brazilian racial identity has been constructed from a color continuum rather than discrete categories. To this end, self-identification often differs from the perception of another. In light of the newly instated affirmative action policies, many have questioned the reliability of applying concrete racial categories to a country that rose out of profound mixed ethnic and racial origins. The inclusion of a verification system has generated a serious debate on the foundation and limits of racial identity construction. How does one construct their racial identity for the purpose of affirmative action? What are the advantages and limitations of verifying an individual’s identity? This paper analyzes the unique dual identification process that exists at the Universidade Federal do Paraná drawing from four qualitative interviews from the Center for Afro-Brazilian Studies located within the university.
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