What term is used to describe skin color discrimination based on shade within a racial group?

The term that specifically describes skin color discrimination based on shade within a racial group is colorism. Colorism recognizes that individuals within the same racial group may experience varying levels of bias and preferential treatment depending on their skin tone, with lighter skin often being privileged over darker skin. This phenomenon can significantly impact social dynamics, as it intersects with issues of beauty standards, economic opportunity, and social status.

While racism refers to discrimination or prejudice directed at individuals based on their race, it encompasses broader societal discrimination between different racial groups, rather than distinctions within a single racial group. Segregation relates to the enforced separation of different racial or ethnic groups in social settings, and discrimination generally refers to unfair treatment based on various characteristics, but does not specify the nuance of shade discrimination within a racial group. Therefore, colorism is the most accurate and specific term for this type of discrimination.