Margaret Hunter
Ph.D. 1999, Sociology, UCLA
Margaret “Maggie” Hunter specializes in research on race and gender discrimination. More specifically, Hunter investigates colorism, or how people of color experience discrimination according to the lightness or darkness of their skin tone. Her research on colorism has led to additional studies on skin bleaching practices around the globe and trends in “ethnic cosmetic surgery.” Her research has been highlighted in many media outlets and in the documentary, “Light Girls” distributed by the Oprah Winfrey Network. Dr. Hunter also studies the politics of race in higher education. She is currently leading a team of student researchers who are studying Gen Z and their experience in college and with social activism. Finally, Dr. Hunter researches racial and gender representations in hip-hop and how women of color are represented in the media.
Dr. Hunter really enjoys classroom teaching and is always looking for new and creative ways to teach and learn with students. She enjoys community-engaged learning and hands-on experiences for students. She teaches classes such as Social Movements, Body Politics, Sociological Theory, Introduction to Research Design and Methods, and more.
Maggie Hunter grew up in Toledo, Ohio in a mixed race family (white Jewish mother from New York and African American father from Ohio). She went to the University of Wisconsin, Madison for her undergraduate degree where she was a Sociology major, and then on to UCLA where she earned her Ph.D. in Sociology. She has been at Santa Clara University since 2022.