Over the years, there has been an ongoing craze in some Asian countries with having lighter and fairer skin. A fair, milky complexion for them would be an epitome of beauty. The reason for this? Dark skin has been associated to being poor. It goes way, way back when the poor would of course do all the labouring under the sun and the rich has the luxury to stay indoors and under the shades. Light skin has been greatly correlated to wealth and nobility just as how fairy tales features princesses to be light skinned like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Pale, white skin has been a beauty standard in Asian countries as having pale skin means being beautiful. The media also of course plays a big role in this because if you see the celebrities, artists, models, etc. from an Asian country; majority would be light skinned (with some advertising the apparent whitening product/method they used to achieve this). As a result to this, people are influenced to follow this because they want to be within that beauty standard and to be called beautiful.
Now I came from an Asian country with that exact same beauty standard. I grew up and spent half of my life in the very sunny and warm country, Philippines. I however moved to a western country when I was ten years old and as many knows, in western countries they prefer the complete opposite which is a more tanned complexion. I never really cared much about complexions before; as a kid I was the type who would be out all day to play if possible. When I moved over however, I became more of a house person. I won’t say I am dark nor light, I am more of in between (typical colour of the people from the Philippines, although maybe just a tad bit lighter) and can’t grow anymore lighter. I never returned to my home country for a good seven to eight years until the recent years and what I noticed was the great fixation with skin lightening everywhere. I was so surprised that supermarkets have a whole aisle alone of skin whitening which involves of soaps and lotions. I have also heard that there were methods which involves of tablets/pills to be taken daily to achieve the light complexion as well as IV drips and injectable. I am sure there are a few more methods to bleach the skin white but it greatly surprised me that there are people who would go as far just to achieve a lighter and paler skin. Now, I have nothing against any of these because in the end of the day it’s not my body to decide however I wonder if the consequence was even weighed out? For some, great there were no side effects, but everyone’s body is different. Plus, there might not be any noticeable consequence now but what about in the future? Again, I have nothing against people who partakes and does it but I wish it’s not due to the reason of being under the pressure of requiring to be whiter to try and fit a beauty standard.
Self-love and appreciation is needed. Learn to love yourself and the skin you’re in. Your colour does not define you. Besides, I think the most beautiful people are the ones who radiates of confidence to just be themselves.
What are your opinions about this beauty standard and the topic overall? Comment down below to share your thoughts and opinions.
I have never heard of it myself, but i think it is a shame that there is such a negative opinion by the sounds of it. i think its such a shame because everyone should feel happy in their own skin :/ It would be nice to hope that the opinions of some people will get more positive but with everything going on in the world recently i cant see it somewhow.