I already wrote a couple of posts that are somewhat related to this topic which I want to discuss today (please see the links below). The topic is about skin color and the perception or definition of beauty. I was born in a society obsessed with fair skin. I think India is the world leader in the sale of fair skin products (products like Fair and Lovely or Fair and Handsome are very popular brands in India). I have dark skin. I guess I have the darkest skin complexion among all three siblings in my family. As a kid, I always used to get consolation that even though my skin was dark it was not very dark, so I should be happy that it was a little bit fairer than some cousin in the family or neighbor who was cited as an example for being darker than me. I was also consoled that as I am a boy it won't be much of a problem for my marriage as my gender itself gives me the upper hand in the marriage bazaar. Just because I am a male I can easily demand or choose a fair-skinned bride to strike a balance in the next generation. This might sound ridiculous or crazy but this was how it was, but luckily for me I never felt any inferiority complex at any time in my life because of my skin color or physical appearance. I never bothered much about anybody's physical appearance, maybe because of the influence of books I read or maybe because of my "I don't give it a damn" attitude towards these types of comments about physical looks. I can't say exactly what was the reason but I never felt guilty or inferior because of my skin color or any other aspect of my body, rather more people commented more proud I felt about it.
I know that skin color doesn't matter at all. No one should feel bad about their skin color. Black, brown, white, or anything else all are beautiful and unique in their own way. This is now easy for me to say, but back then when I was a kid it was not that easy. I saw many people feeling depressed or inferior just because of their skin color. It is not easy to ignore when people around you comment about your skin color negatively every time discussing about you. It is not easy when your skin color is used to tease you or humiliate you. Due to such negative comments, people start thinking that something is wrong with them that's why I totally understand the situation when I read news about girls going into depression because of their dark complexion, or people's desperate efforts to make their skin fairer to look beautiful by using whatever means are available to them. This all happens because of tremendous social and psychological pressure created on these individuals by the hypocritical behavior of society. We need to diffuse this pressure, as it's not easy for everyone to understand that skin color really doesn't matter. The advertisements of fairness creams are derogatory and are examples of pathetic attempts to earn money by demeaning and insulting dark-skinned people. As some of these products are endorsed by some famous celebrities more people start believing in these ads and get trapped in an inferiority complex.
I still remember when my mother used to put a lot of white talcum powder (the only cosmetic product that we could afford) on my face so that I look a little fairer during any photo shoot or social function (like a marriage ceremony or festival celebrations). I know that she did all these things out of concern about me. She was worried that someone might comment about my dark complexion. She didn't want someone to call her son ugly because of his skin color. This worry was instigated in her by the society around her. That's why I feel campaigns like 'Dark is beautiful' or people like Lupita talking about their experience related to the stigma associated with skin color are very important. This post is also a small effort in that direction. There are many issues in the world about which we need to worry but our skin color should not be one of them. No matter what these advertisements say every skin color is beautiful. We need to question and challenge these prejudices about skin color which still exist in our society. These prejudices are propagated by many advertisements, and some programs on TV. Even today, in many comedy shows in India they always make fun of dark-skinned or overweight people. Now whenever someone tries to console me for my dark skin, I tell them not to worry about my skin color as I am really proud of my skin color. I make it very clear to them that I don't need their consoling or sympathy about my skin color. I love my skin color and I advise everyone to love theirs. Let it be black, white, brown, fair, dark, or whatever all colors are equally beautiful. Let's kick this prejudice out of our minds which is largely the result of some selfish marketing of some beauty products and enjoy this colorful world. Remember "we all are beautiful."
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
[Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing]
I know that skin color doesn't matter at all. No one should feel bad about their skin color. Black, brown, white, or anything else all are beautiful and unique in their own way. This is now easy for me to say, but back then when I was a kid it was not that easy. I saw many people feeling depressed or inferior just because of their skin color. It is not easy to ignore when people around you comment about your skin color negatively every time discussing about you. It is not easy when your skin color is used to tease you or humiliate you. Due to such negative comments, people start thinking that something is wrong with them that's why I totally understand the situation when I read news about girls going into depression because of their dark complexion, or people's desperate efforts to make their skin fairer to look beautiful by using whatever means are available to them. This all happens because of tremendous social and psychological pressure created on these individuals by the hypocritical behavior of society. We need to diffuse this pressure, as it's not easy for everyone to understand that skin color really doesn't matter. The advertisements of fairness creams are derogatory and are examples of pathetic attempts to earn money by demeaning and insulting dark-skinned people. As some of these products are endorsed by some famous celebrities more people start believing in these ads and get trapped in an inferiority complex.
I still remember when my mother used to put a lot of white talcum powder (the only cosmetic product that we could afford) on my face so that I look a little fairer during any photo shoot or social function (like a marriage ceremony or festival celebrations). I know that she did all these things out of concern about me. She was worried that someone might comment about my dark complexion. She didn't want someone to call her son ugly because of his skin color. This worry was instigated in her by the society around her. That's why I feel campaigns like 'Dark is beautiful' or people like Lupita talking about their experience related to the stigma associated with skin color are very important. This post is also a small effort in that direction. There are many issues in the world about which we need to worry but our skin color should not be one of them. No matter what these advertisements say every skin color is beautiful. We need to question and challenge these prejudices about skin color which still exist in our society. These prejudices are propagated by many advertisements, and some programs on TV. Even today, in many comedy shows in India they always make fun of dark-skinned or overweight people. Now whenever someone tries to console me for my dark skin, I tell them not to worry about my skin color as I am really proud of my skin color. I make it very clear to them that I don't need their consoling or sympathy about my skin color. I love my skin color and I advise everyone to love theirs. Let it be black, white, brown, fair, dark, or whatever all colors are equally beautiful. Let's kick this prejudice out of our minds which is largely the result of some selfish marketing of some beauty products and enjoy this colorful world. Remember "we all are beautiful."
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
Links:
1. Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong'o's Speech On Beauty
2. What is real beauty?
3. We all are beautiful.
4. http://darkisbeautiful.blogspot.com/
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