Mexicans of European Descent - White/European/Criollo Vs Mestizo Today

White/European/Criollo Vs Mestizo Today

The concept of race in Mexico is subtle and the result of multiple cultural concepts which are not given attention by most of the population. They not only include physical clues such as skin color but also cultural dispositions, morality and intellectual status. It is not static or well defined but rather is defined and redefined by situation. Descent is still one primary determiner of social status which is only loosely associated with biological traits. This makes racial distinctions different than those in other countries such as the United States.

However, the concept of being fair of complexion, called güero in Mexican Spanish, still exists, with it basically referring to those of predominantly European heritage. Many of these would not be considered such by American, Canadian or European standards. The reason for this is that those of European heritage with absolutely no indigenous or other features are rare in Mexico However, those with the lightest skin in Mexico are generally associated with the well-educated and upper income social classes. Racial and social distinctions are strongest in Mexico City, where the most powerful of the country's elite are located.

One very distinctive element about the generally lighter skinned Mexican elite is their separateness from the rest of Mexican society). These upper classes fear the "common masses" even though they are supposed to be emblematic of the country. There has been a long standing anxiety among the elite of Mexico that it never truly becomes modern because of something intrinsically wrong with Mexico. This usually focuses as the inability for the masses to change. The concept of civilization and modernity is strongly tied to assimilating as close as possible to the culture and economy of the United States and Europe.

Complicating the situation is the relationship between whites and Europeans, and the mestizo population, as racial and ethnic identification is strongly associated with Mexico's history, with descent more of a determining factor than biological traits. Since Independence, the official identity promoted has been "mestizo" or a mix of Spanish and indigenous, which has affected social and political policy in the country. However, these policies contradict internally and between theory and reality, with European characteristics remaining in favor to this day. Since 1930, the Mexican government has not included race as part of its census due to an ideology designed to stop making designations among "Mexicans". Today well processed estimates put the "white" population at about ten or eleven percent. In one survey based on self-identification, percentages of "whites" varied from ten to twenty percent depending on when one considered biology, customs and/or origins. In theory, emphasis on mestizo identity was supposed to eliminate divisions and create a unified identity that would allow Mexico to modernize and integrate into the international community.

The lack of a clear defining line between "white" and "mixed race" is further blurred by the fact that there is little homogeneity among mestizos, with the lighter skinned being favored, as associated with higher social class, power, money and modernity. Being "dark" ("moreno" in Mexican Spanish) is associated with Indian origin with its inferior social class and implying submission. There is some correlation between skin color, ethnicity and wealth, with those who mostly identified as "white" having higher socioeconomic indices such as ownership of durable goods and education levels. Although on the surface, most Mexicans identify as a "mixed-race", the European side is still considered to be superior, with efforts to promote European culture and values over indigenous ones.

Despite the fact that the 55% of Mexicans have copper skin and dark hair, most advertising shows those with blond hair and white skin, including store mannequins, posters on subway trains and the television screen. Social critics blame television and other media for perpetuating the preference for light skin, but attempts to use darker skinned models and spokespeople have failed to sell products. However, aside from these critics, there is little to no push to have television shows, music, news and other media have a more diversified presence.

A more recent variation on this cultural and biological preference is "malinchismo" which means to identify or favor a North American or European culture over the native one. It derives from La Malinche, the native interpreter who allied with Cortés during the Conquest. The story has strong domination and servitude elements and is still an important social imagery for Mexicans (of which only 3% believe in race, and 0.7% know and can identify it), with a strong preference to those with power. Today, it has morphed into a preference for English given names due to the influence of the United States.

Idioms of race serve a mediating terms between social groups. "Güero" or "güerito" is used by street vendors to call out to potential customers, sometimes even when the person is not light-skinned. It is used in this instance to initiate a kind of familiarity, but in cases where social/racial tensions are relatively high(which are almost unheard of throughout the country), it can have the opposite effect.