Entrepreneurs experience discrimination based on skin tone and socioeconomic level

61.5% of Mexican entrepreneurs consider that their skin tone is a determining factor in obtaining financing, while 70% say that they have felt discrimination because of their social class (medium-low), according to a study conducted by Impact Hub.

The report reveals that while lighter the skin greater access to financing you have and when the tone is darker, financing becomes more difficult; Of the latter, 47% have a medium skin tone and 35% dark. In fact, at least three out of 10 entrepreneurs with a dark skin tone say that this has directly affected them when requesting financing.

Mario Romero, general director of Impact Hub Mexico City, highlighted that entrepreneurship in Mexico is a privilege, since most of the ventures are founded by people of light skin tone, with a socioeconomic level of medium-high origin, therefore open a business being low class is more difficult.

“The classism and racism They are also present in entrepreneurship, causing opportunities not to be the same for everyone. The ecosystem has some features of exclusion, which are important to address as soon as possible to reduce the inequality gap, ”she specified.

The study also highlights that 45.8% of the people who create a business are of light skin tone and 61.3% of middle or upper social class. Likewise, three out of 10 entrepreneurs from a high social class mention that their condition of origin is an advantage when starting a business.

In addition, according to Cecilia Ortiz Juárez, manager of international projects and social researcher at Impact Hub, only one in 10 entrepreneurs with a dark skin tone manages to have a reach of international saleswhile five out of 10 light-skinned market outside the country and doing a master’s degree makes a difference, since it increases the possibility of exporting.

Discrimination by regions

Ortiz stressed that Mexican entrepreneurs also suffer from other types of discrimination such as social class (70%), age (69%), educational level (62%) y gender (56%); however, the type of discrimination varies according to the regions.

In the North of the country The main type of discrimination is the educational level, this may be due to the fact that “the enterprises have very similar characteristics; most are light-skinned, male, and have at least a bachelor’s degree, and mostly access to foreign travel.”

The discrimination in center of the country focuses on: age and social class (of origin and current), while in the on is gender, educational level and skin tone.

In addition, the Business Type varies according to region. In the center they are disruptive and digital, that is, more focused on technology and fintech, but in the north, disruptive businesses are more successful. However, in the south of the country the ventures are traditional (little shops or small businesses).

“That the least successful entrepreneurs are found in the south of the country; his skin tone belongs to the medium tone, the educational level is basic education in public institutionThey do not have studies abroad and their only language is Spanish. These are very contrasting data with respect to the situation in the north of Mexico, where the entrepreneurs went to private schools, speak two or more languages ​​and their studies are bachelor’s or master’s degrees. The inequality gap is considerable,” said Romero.