Thanks for your comments! As always, you have something interesting to say. The uneven skin tone thing was something I was not aware of and I think that does make me look at this in a different perspective i.e I realize that not all cases are black and white when it comes to using these kinds of creams.

And also thanks for your comment on my picture. I’m going to be on a high for all of this week!

Oh, and sorry I took so long to respond, but I recently moved, and didn’t have Internet access for a couple of weeks.

Oh, I want to see your picture now after reading Laurie’s comment. I already swoon over your writing! What an interesting, well-written post. Congratulations on getting published in the other article.

When I lived in Japan, there were a lot of skin whiteners for sale. And one would be tempted to think it has to do with the marketing that has been done over there since WWII, etc., but the popularity of the white-faced geisha precedes that.

Also, I agree with Sharon’s post about personally always having envied darker skin and easily-tanned people. (Now, of course, the tanning beds are creating a new breed of orange people, but that’s not on our table for discussion, thankfully! ) I remember from my childhood “the deep, dark, tropical tan” was all the rage, and — despite the health risks — is back in style. Perhaps it is all a case of “the grass is greener” rather than the skin is lighter/darker.

I have read that there is a biological component (sorry if I’m covering ground which was covered in the article as I’ve only read your post, so far.. ) for many men being attracted to women a few shades lighter than themselves, which might account for why women from the lightest groups are not absolutely considered more beautiful than women in other groups of skin tone.

Well, take care! Keep up the good work!

Robin

Thanks! I don’t think I have been in a beauty shop ever, so that’s pretty interesting. I also saw this on the website.

Ethnic Skin Whitening/Brightening Set

For brown and dark-skinned individuals who want even overall skin tone.

They just stop short of saying it!

Actually, over the years, I’ve seen a number of adverts for skin whitening cremes for sale in the US and also in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, China). You see odd products like that in the US if you visit a beauty supply shop in the innercity. It really is perverse but some people buy into the commercial ideal of beauty that is celebrated in the media…basically of super thin, light skinned, Barbie freaks. That’s why Toni Morrison wrote The Bluest Eye. Here is the url for one skin whitening creme that has customers in the US. http://www.godivaskincare.com/store/home.php This one at least has tried to be somewhat ‘politically correct’ by says that their creme is for clearing up your skin or minimizing scars, etc., but that’s not what a lot of people purchasing the stuff are looking for it to do.

Good to see you drop by. Thanks for your thoughts. I guess it varies from culture to culture and even place to place. But in this case in India, even the darker people seem to have this bias. So I think it’s a bit different from what you experienced in your culture. But that is certainly something I hadn’t known before.

Nice job. I think it is a very interesting topic.

I grew up in a culture that admires skin that tans easily. Tanned skin looks healthier. I have very fair freckled skin and I was always envious of my friends who got gorgeous tans in the summer. I just got more freckles.

I also grew up envious of people with darker skin because they don’t age as quickly. My understanding is that the relative amount of melanin in skin is what makes it darker and keeps it protected from the damaging sun.

Maybe it’s a centuries-old case of sour grapes. It is actually beneficial to health and beauty to have dark skin, therefore people with lighter skin tried to make it seem less desirable?

Just some random thoughts.

Cheers,
Sharon