Discrimination Against Chicanos in the Dallas Rental Housing Market: An Experimental Extension of the Housing Market Practices Survey

摘要

Adapting an ''audit'' technique used to measure discrimination against blacks in the nationwide housing market, this study determines the extent of housing discrimination against Chicanos in the Dallas, Tex., rental housing market. It focuses on three issues: (1) types of discriminatory treatment Chicanos are likely to encounter in the rental housing market; (2) the extent to which Chicanos encounter various types of discriminatory treatment, depending on their skin color; and (3) the extent of discriminatory treatment against Chicanos as compared to that against blacks in the same market. Types of discriminatory treatment measured included providing false or incomplete information about housing availability, offering less favorable terms and lease conditions, withholding lease information, ignoring common courtesies that might facilitate the rental process, and screening apartment seekers' qualifications in different ways. Clear evidence of discrimination was uncovered, particularly against dark - skinned Chicanos, who have a 96 percent chance of experiencing at least one instance of discrimination in the typical housing search involving six rental agencies. Light - skinned Chicanos have about a 65 percent chance. Although the results cannot be generalized as an example of national policy, the study does illuminate the usefulness of the audit methodology for measuring discrimination. Detailed results and study data are included.