Discrimination, poverty and vulnerability: the intricacies of social inequality in Mexico

Abstract

This article presents an approach to the study of the relationship between discrimination and poverty in Mexico. By using the databases of the 2010 National Survey on Discrimination, the importance of poverty is quantified in relation to discriminatory attitudes and behaviours against general population, as well as women groups, elderly adults, young people, people with disabilities, religious minorities, ethnic minorities, sexual minorities and domestic workers, considered by the National Council for the Prevention of Discrimination as populations facing discrimination. A poverty indicator and an index were constructed in order to measure its relative importance as a discriminating factor in terms of perceptions and with regard to individuals’ experiences as victims. Evidence shows that discrimination has a greater impact among people living in poverty, as well as among most vulnerable groups.