Decolouring: The Racialised Imprints of Upward Mobility in Lima's Dominant Class

A significant body of literature highlights the fluidity and adaptability of racial categories in Latin America (Cánepa, 2008; Dixon, 2019; Harris, 1970; Telles & Flores, 2013). Among the most debated ideas in this research is the concept of ‘whitening’. This term describes the changes in status and behaviour experienced by non-white individuals as they assimilate into predominantly white environments.

My research builds on this concept to explore the racial implications of class mobility within Lima's dominant social class. Based on 42 interviews with both upwardly mobile and established individuals, the study investigates how the integration of ‘Mestizo’ people into this dominant class affects their racial status. By introducing the concept of decolouring, I show how ‘Mestizo’ individuals are racially positioned after achieving social advancement. This concept highlights their experiences of uncertainty, illustrating their transition away from a stigmatized and symbolically ‘dark’ racial position, while they have not yet fully embraced a new, stable racial identity.