Why is skin bleaching condemned among Africans but not Asians? (darker, light)
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It seems that a black person from Africa/of African descent who admits to bleaching their skin faces far more stigma than a Chinese, Korean person who does it. They'll be typically called a "self hater", "mentally ill" (referring to body dysmorphia). The same however doesn't apply to Asia. There is criticism but not to the same degree..
Not trying to be disagreeable but actually, I have heard the term self-hatred in relation to Asians bleaching their skin. I wasn't aware it was common in African countries.
Not trying to be disagreeable but actually, I have heard the term self-hatred in relation to Asians bleaching their skin. I wasn't aware it was common in African countries.
Was that actually in Asia or outside of Asia with the person raised under a different set of cultural norms? For the person of Asian ancestry to see the whitener advertising from their forefather nation can be a mind trip. Thus they revert to the indoctrinated response that this is the result of a European colonizer when it may have a local class status symbol as the root.
I think it's far fetched for a Black to expect their skin to "turn white"
I do know there is a spectrum of "perceived attractiveness" OFTEN WITHIN the African-American community where the "lighter skinned" Blacks are held at a higher regard. I have AA acquaintances and they often talk about skin tone on the spectrum of colors (never about "bleaching" their skin though).
I don't know if the Blacks in other places such as Africa or UK think about the spectrum the same way, as we know in the USA it is because there are just more diversity and inter-relations between races so there are more variations in "color spectrum"
As for Asians. Speaking for myself in California, and lots of Americanized Asians that I know. The tanner, the better.
The Asians in Asia with the whitening products. Different cultural mindset towards beauty- they associate lighter with being more beautiful. I don't think those Asians who use it in Asia are even exposed enough to Western culture to indicate they are using such products to "look more like whites"
The OP's question presumes that Africans, African Americans, Blacks, hold themselves to different standards of authenticity than other races/cultures. And there would be some truth to that. The reasons why are complex though, and there is not enough time, nor room, on this thread to fully examine the topic. Colonialism is almost an oversimplification, if not a dismissive, lens through which to view our own colorism, which is why it is almost better to not even discuss the issues at hand than to insult anyone's intelligence.
The question really does not belong in fashion and beauty, IMO, and should probably be moved. So that it can be explored in a way that does greater justification for the arguments presented.
1. It depends on which Asian. On average, for East Asians, since they tend to be lighter, it is less obvious lightening efforts are happening. It is easily camouflaged as trying to improve evenness. And while some mild lighteners are used, it is more common to see really active sun avoidance stuff - hats, umbrellas and religious use of sunscreen.
2. For South East and South Asians harsher lightening products are common and prevalent. And this behavior is criticized.
3. As for the lightening, it is not always related to colonial ideas. For South Asia, yes. For East Asia* it is mores about class - darker people had physical jobs like farming and rice production. Light skin was a sign of wealth. For South East Asians, both the class and the colonial influence play into it.
In general, society is just starting to recognize colorism in its various forms and impacts.
Is that so? How about the contrast between fair skin against dark hair may also just be viewed as biologically more attractive for many? I think it looks striking and added to the beauty of ‘black Irish’ such as Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer of The Cranberries. (However, when taken too far, it can produce the opposite effect by giving a more ghoulish appearance.)
Take a look at ancient pictures and descriptions of the native cultural ideals of beauty in some East and SE Asian cultures, independent of any colonial White influence. It includes fairer skin tone. Any tie-in to class is due to the fact those depicted were important, high class women.
Yes, there is a correlation between skin tone, class, and perception of beauty resulting from it. But I believe there is also a biological drive as well. In fact, fair-skinned women have been known to jump class when their beauty resulted in them marrying higher-classed males (also a world-wide phenomenon).
Sad, and a sign of the times. Stop dictating or shaming people for their perceptions of beauty, and removing their ability to act on it by projecting your standards on them. What happened to “to each their own”? What happened to the classic business model of supply and demand?
ETA: I don’t use skin bleaching products, yet will defend the rights of those who want to for whatever reasons. Choice.
Is that so? How about the contrast between fair skin against dark hair may also just be viewed as biologically more attractive for many? I think it looks striking and added to the beauty of ‘black Irish’ such as Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer of The Cranberries. (However, when taken too far, it can produce the opposite effect by giving a more ghoulish appearance.)
Take a look at ancient pictures and descriptions of the native cultural ideals of beauty in some East and SE Asian cultures, independent of any colonial White influence. It includes fairer skin tone. Any tie-in to class is due to the fact those depicted were important, high class women.
Yes, there is a correlation between skin tone, class, and perception of beauty resulting from it. But I believe there is also a biological drive as well. In fact, fair-skinned women have been known to jump class when their beauty resulted in them marrying higher-classed males (also a world-wide phenomenon).
Poorer people have to work outdoors, getting darker. Wealthier people got to stay inside unexposed. So fair skin was a sign of privilege. That is where class is tied in. If you were wealthy enough not to work in a rice paddy or other agriculture - that was significant.
I don't buy into contrast as being a primary driver. A lot of the status tied to appearance is learned, not innate (beyond things like symmetry).
Poorer people have to work outdoors, getting darker. Wealthier people got to stay inside unexposed. So fair skin was a sign of privilege. That is where class is tied in. If you were wealthy enough not to work in a rice paddy or other agriculture - that was significant.
I don't buy into contrast as being a primary driver. A lot of the status tied to appearance is learned, not innate (beyond things like symmetry).
The class factor is a correlation, not causation. Meaning, people wanted paler skin not as an aspiration to be higher class (or it’s not the primary motivation), but because they consider paler skin more attractive, both on others and for themselves. I’ve also seen this preference displayed by young children who had not been exposed to Western cultural influences, as well as other demographics and both sexes.*
* My 0.02 as a person familiar with both the cultural influences of both my SE Asian birth country, as well as first hand experience and some historical knowledge of some East Asian countries. At least for the culture of my SE Asian country, which is similar to some East Asian countries.
I always felt bad growing up in California in the 60’s. The tanned surfer girl look was cool. I had pale white skin that burned easily.
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