-----

Who is considered white in Argentina, and why does it matter? Unlike the United States, where racial categories are rigid and legally entrenched, Argentina has long embraced a myth of homogeneity—claiming a European lineage while erasing Indigenous and Afro-Argentine histories. The national census does not formally recognize whiteness as a category, reinforcing the assumption that most Argentines are of European descent. Yet, racial identity remains deeply entangled with status, class, and national belonging. If whiteness is everywhere, does it still function as a meaningful boundary? This study argues that, despite the absence of explicit racial classifications, whiteness operates as an implicit yet powerful social category, shaping access to privilege in ways that are often unspoken. By comparing Argentina’s approach to race with the U.S. model of rigid classification, this research highlights how racial boundaries are drawn, blurred, and reinforced. In a world where racial identity continues to shape political conflict, migration patterns, and global inequalities, understanding how whiteness operates beyond the Global North offers critical insights into the persistence of racial hierarchies and the narratives that sustain them.

Light lunch will be provided. 

-----