Face detection refers to a number of techniques that identify faces in images and videos. As part of the senior project exercise at Pomona College, I explore the process of face detection using a JavaScript library called CLMtrackr. CLMtrackr works in any browser and detects faces within the video stream captured by a webcam. The focus of this paper is to explore the shortcomings in the inclusivity of the CLMtrackr library and consequently that of face detection. In my research, I have used two datasets that contain human faces with diverse backgrounds, in order to assess the accuracy of CLMtrackr. The two datasets are the MUCT and PPB. In addition, I investigate whether skin color is a key factor in determining face detection's success, to ascertain where and why a face might not be recognized within an image. While my research and work produced some inconclusive results due to a small sample size and a couple outliers in my outputs, it is clear that there is a trends toward the CLMtrackr algorithm recognizing faces with lighter skin tones more often than darker ones.

Purpose: The purpose with this study is to research how consumers’ view on the inclusivity in the makeup industry and how the skin tones of the models in an advertisement shape consumer attitudes towards the advertisement. Research questions: How do consumers evaluate advertisements based on the skin tone of models used in the advertisement? What are the consumers view on the inclusivity in the makeup industry? Method: A qualitative research method was chosen for this study. The data was collected by interviewing four focus groups. Conclusion: The result of this study showed that makeup advertisement still is not inclusive and diverse enough. The makeup advertisements lack models with different skin tones, specifically darker skin tones. This creates negative attitude among the consumers. The makeup industry as a whole is not seen as inclusive enough and that brands only include darker skin tones in their advertisements because it is trendy now, thus it is not genuine.

Abstract Skin tone of an African American is a key primer for prejudicial attitudes among Whites, with darker skin tones eliciting more negative reactions. No previous studies have examined this phenomenon with African Americans as the evaluators. Social identity and social categorization theories, and Cross' theory of nigrescence, provided theoretical frameworks for this study. It was proposed that male African American observers' evaluations of another African American male may depend not only on the skin tone of the target (job candidate) and the quality of his credentials, but also on the observer's own skin tone and stage of racial identity. Using Harrison and Thomas' methodology with White observers, 136 self-identified African American males were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions that varied skin tone (light, medium, dark) of the male shown in a photo and the quality of the resume (lower, higher) presented with that job candidate. In addition, each participant was assessed for stage of racial identity and self reported skin tone. After viewing the photo and resume, participants evaluated the job candidate on hireability, trustworthiness, expertise, and attractiveness. There were no statistically significant findings. Outcomes suggested possible problems with the experimental materials that had been used previously with White observers. Further, there were problems with gaining adequate sample sizes for the person variables, suggesting a need for larger samples for future research. Despite the nonsignificant statistical findings, intraracial discrimination continues to be an important area for future study. Indeed, understanding intraracial social judgments related to skin tone among African Americans has as much social significance as understanding evaluations of African Americans by Whites and others.

The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, practices, and the sources of knowledge that certified prosthetists/orthotists (CPOs) have experienced regarding early pressure injury assessment for different skin tones. This was examined across different contexts of skin tone demographics using qualitative semi-structured interviews with CPOs from different contexts. Seven participants from six different clinics were recruited using purposive sampling. Of the interviewed participants, five were from Scandinavia, one from South Africa, and one from Nigeria. The interviews were conducted to explore the participants’ own experience of this phenomenon using a phenomenological approach and an interpretivist paradigm. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the transcribed interviews inductively. The results consisted of five main categories: Assessment, Standardized Methods, Perceptions of Assessment regarding Skin Tones, Sources of Knowledge regarding Skin Tones, and Relevance of Knowledge Improvement, each with a number of subcategories. There were two main findings. Firstly, CPOs lack systematized knowledge of early pressure injuries irrespective of skin tones. Secondly, many CPOs lack assessment knowledge for darker skin tones as it is only learned from experience and is not taught in education or literature. In conclusion, the field of prosthetics and orthotics must develop to improve systematic early pressure injury knowledge and assessment differences between skin tones.

abstract: The overarching goal of this dissertation was to contribute to the field’s understanding of young children’s development of ethnic-racial identification. In particular, Study 1 presented the adaptation of three measures that are developmentally appropriate for assessing young children’s ethnic-racial attitudes, ethnic-racial centrality, and ethnic-racial knowledge, and tested the psychometric properties of each measure. Findings from Study 1 provided limited initial support for the construct validity and reliability of the measures; importantly, there were many differences in the descriptives and measurement properties based on the language in which children completed the measures. In addition to measurement of ethnic-racial identification, Study 2 used the measures developed in Study 1 and tested whether Mexican-origin mothers’ adaptive cultural characteristics (i.e., ERI affirmation, ethnic-racial centrality, and involvement in Mexican culture) when children were 3 years of age predicted greater cultural socialization efforts with children at 4 years of age and, in turn, children’s ethnic-racial identification (i.e., children’s ethnic-racial attitudes, ethnic-racial centrality, ethnic-racial knowledge, and identification as Mexican) at 5 years of age. Furthermore, children’s characteristics (i.e., gender and skin tone) were tested as moderators of these processes. Findings supported expected processes from mothers’ adaptive cultural characteristics to children’s ethnic-racial identification via mothers’ cultural socialization across boys and girls, however, relations varied by children’s skin tone. Findings highlight the important role of children’s individual characteristics in cultural socialization and young children’s developing ethnic-racial identification over time. Overall, given the paucity of studies that have examined ethnic-racial identification among young children, the results from Study 1 and Study 2 have the potential to stimulate growth of knowledge in this area. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Family and Human Development 2016

The experiences of African American women managers in predominantly Black work environments and the implication of these experiences on their ability to lead remains unknown. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to gain deeper understanding of the leadership experiences of African American women managers employed in predominantly Black work environments. This study was framed by three key concepts: intersectionality of gender and race, intraracial discrimination, and colorism. The trustworthiness of the study's data was supported by employing methodological triangulation of the study's multiple data sources: semistructured interviews with 10 African American women managers as participants, journaling/ reflective field notes, and archival data. Cross case analysis revealed 8 categories that enclose a total of twelve themes: (a) career trajectory of African American woman manager, (b) gender challenges in a predominantly Black enterprise, (c) race challenges in a predominantly Black enterprise, (d) leadership experiences with subordinates informed by gender and race, (e) further career goals as an African American woman manager, (f) colorism in childhood and adolescence, (g) colorism in daily adult experiences, and (h) intraracial discrimination from subordinates based on skin tone. This study is likely to promote social change by sensitizing predominantly Black work environments on issues of equal treatment between gender groups and ways in which an intraracial context influences African American women's management experiences.

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Though mental health issues are prevalent in Black young adults, they underutilize mental healthcare services. This research examined the role of feature-based discrimination in mental healthcare (under)utilization. Study 1, a secondary analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, provided no evidence supporting a link between skin tone and mental healthcare utilization, when controlling for depression diagnosis. However, when controlling for depression symptoms, there was a trend such that Black young adults with darker, as opposed to lighter, skin tone utilized healthcare less. Study 2, an experimental study with 33 Black college students, showed 73% of the sample preferred a Black counselor. Additionally, they preferred counselors with darker skin, wider nose, and thicker lips, compared to counselors with lighter skin, narrower nose, and thinner lips. These findings suggest the importance of taking into account Afrocentric features and its social consequences when assessing health-related behaviors in Black Americans.

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