Only recently have we been seeing commercials that promote diversity within them. But for the longest time its been one singular image that has reigned: you guess. Forever, being lighter made someone more attractive, and skin bleaching companies would successfully play into this narrative that your skin color- the one you were born with- is not good enough, or attractive. Every year millions of women and men play off their fears of not aesthetically pleasing the eyes that manifest upon their bodies.
I remember sitting watching t.v. and seeing this women who was dark skin and she was all sad,but then she was magically was bestowed the power of Fair and Lovely and the in a matter weeks her skin was lighter and her smile was beaming. why? is it necessary for skin color, the lighter is to bestow upon the power of confidence?
Fair and Lovely is mostly sold in Asian countries to a demographic of women 18 years and older. In countries where having a lighter shade of skin resonates as some type of hidden message you are in fact a successful affluent human being. back in the past- i say past because there should no longer be room for skin color to denote a certain image, but life sucks and then you don't have deal with it because now is not the time to step back. However continuing on many Asians countries had a caste system and farmers whom would be out on the field all day had darker complexion where at the bottom opposed to royalty who had lighters ones.
Skin Bleaching is a even bigger industry in Africa has been a tried and successful market for women in countries where dark skin is acceptable. In Nigeria it is reported that more than 75% of women buy skin bleaching Products. Skin Bleaching is such a big thing even celebrities like Dencia who has a skin bleaching line called Whitenicous, instead of promoting fashion lines, they promote their own skin bleaching collection. Skin bleaching has become such an epidemic that countries like Ivory coast and South Africa have banned them from the country last year due to the harmful side effects such products create.
In a speech Lupita Nyong'o said
“Whether we like to admit it or not, the media plays a really big role in how we see ourselves,” Nyong’o said. “The media is a mirror of what’s important, what’s relevant, what’s valid.”
The was invented in 1927 and since families have been attached to that screen avidly watching people who are supposed to represent them bring a different highlights into their everyday lives. The point Nyong'o made during that speech was that for the longest time a singular image of perfection or beauty was presented to the world in movies and beloved t.v. shows and the impact of that goes beyond the screen and shoves its way into our lives. fairly recently have we seen shows that promote significant diversity like "Black-ish, Fresh of the Boat, Scandal(anything Shonda Rhimes), Orange is the New Black and etc. even with this spurt of diffrent kinds of representation there is still a lack of love for a darker complexion. Lupita Nyonogo came onto the scene and introduced a deep apperciation for dark skin earning her the first Lancome deal as a black woman.Fair and lovley was created in 1975 in india. India is known for its own version of hollywood called bollywood and the females featured in movies have lighter complexions. Thus lending itself as an item adding to the status quo of beauty in India for centuries.In Fair and Lovely commercials you typically see a girl about go through a important milestone in her life but before she does she goes through it she uses Fair and Lovely becomes lighter and is super confident and her life becomes easy. The most notable skin whitening cream in africa Caro White has been a staple in the african skin bleach industry with commercials once again featuring women brightly smiling in their newly lighter skin tones.
what's not seen behind those smiles is the harmful effects these skin bleaching have. most products have hydroquinone and mercury. Hydroquinone is very dangerous chemical which makes the cell of your skin completely dead and once this happens it cannot ever be repaired. Also the Harmful effects of bleaching are also with with people who start bleaching their skin at a young age, because at this time the skin is very tender and thus the chemicals present in the bleach have many harmful effects on the skin. skin bleaching has also been known to manifest later on in the form of cancer. All of theses risks for what? to be accepted into a society that deems a lighter shade aesthetically satisfying? the Media needs to start playing a role in helping people pull away from these disillusioned beliefs that darker skin is not beautiful.
I’m proud of my difference, i don’t want to be the same as everyone else.Skin bleaching absolutely deflects the beautiful nature of having a darker complexion and preys on the insecurities of women who had no choice in the skin they were born in.Im black and I absolutely LOVE my skin color its unique and my best accessory.
