The Distorted Mirror: an Exploratory Study on Ethnoracial Representation and Social Equity in the Mexican Federal Government

This article presents an exploratory assessment of the ethnoracial composition of the federal government in Mexico, and its possible consequences for social equity by asking: How representative is Mexico’s federal bureaucracy of the different ethnoracial groups in the country. What are the possible implications of that composition for social equity? To answer these questions, data were gathered through an online randomized survey. Results suggest that Mestizos and Whites may be overrepresented, and Indigenous and Afro-Mexicans may be underrepresented when compared to the overall population. This “distorted mirror” of Mexican demographics would be by itself unlikely to advance social equity in terms of symbolic and active representation. Furthermore, this research suggests that ethnoracial identities may not be salient for public administrators, which would impede the transition from passive to active representation needed to promote social equity.