11. joulukuuta 2014

Ihonväri

Nigeriassa on tehty kyselytutkimus ihonvärin vaalentamisesta ja hyvin monen mielestä ihonväriä vaalennetaan, koska sen ajatellaan tekevän paremman näköiseksi ja sen ansiosta löytää myös puolison. Nigerialaisilta kysyttiin myös, että näkevätkö he vaalean ihonvärin kauniimpana oli suurin osa tästä eri mieltä, mutta mikä on sitten totuus, jos huomattava osa nigerialaisista naisista vaalentaa ihonväriä.

Predominance of Skin Bleaching Linked to Search for Beauty & Attractiveness

Alla olevan linkin kautta voi sitten jokainen pohtia syitä, miksi eurooppalaiset miehet tykkäävät ulkonäön perusteella paljonkin aaasialaisista tai thainaisista kuin mustista naisista. Sieltä löytyy video, jossa nähtävästi mainostetaan ihonväriä vaalentavaa tuotetta, joka on mielenkiintoinen ilmiö kuinka länsimaissa naiset yleisesti tykkäävät ruskettaa, mutta varsinkin aasialaiset naiset haluavat vaalean ihonvärin.

UV-säteilyn kannalta tämä halu on vähän hölmöä varsinkin lähellä päiväntasaaja elävien ihmisten kannalta, mutta samalla tavalla sitä voi sanoa eurooppalaisia hölmöiksi, jotka makoilevat auringossa. Syitä vaalean ihonvärin haluun on monia, että yleensä monille tulee mieleen länsimaiden vaikutus ja kolonialismi vaikka jos ajatellaan tuota länsimaiden vaikutusta tänä päivänä, niin silloin aasialaisten naisten varsinkaan ei olisi tarvetta haluta vaalempaa ihonväriä, jos he seuraavat länsimaalaisten naisten esimerkkiä ja halua ruskettaa ihonväriään.

Kuitenkin kyse halulle omata vaaleampi ihonväri varsinkin naisen osalta on tutkimusten perusteella yleisesti siinä, että miehet tykkäävät vaaleasta ihonväristä naisella, mutta tässä varmaan vaikuttaa sama tekijä, joka vaikutti aikanaan myös länsimaissa kuinka eliittiin kuuluvat naiset halusivat olla vaaleampia verrattuna ulkotöitä tekeviin ihmisiin. Nähdäkseni vaikka länsimaissa ihmiset ovat innostuneet vähän ruskettuneesta ihonväristä, niin eivät eliittiin kuuluvat naiset kuitenkaan taida yleisemmin samalla tavalla käyttäytyä.

[HD] น้ำตาล พิจักขณา โฆษณาใหม่ POND'S BB ครีม

Löytyi uusi tutkimus ihonväristä, jossa taas tuodaan esille kuinka ihmiset tykkäisivät vaaleasta, mutta karoteenin värisestä ihosta naisella. Tämä voisi selittää ihmisten halua ruskettaa ihonväriä, mutta toisaalta sitä ei saisi liialti ruskettaa vaan sen sijasta pitäisi myös syödä vihanneksia, kuten tomaattia ja porkkanaa, jotta karoteenin määrä elimistössä lisääntyy. Tutkimusten perusteella näyttää yleisesti siltä, että miehet tykkäävät vaaleammasta ihonväristä naisella ja tällä on sitten osaltaan huomattava vaikutus parinvalinnassa.

Mikä tässä sanotaanko jokseenkin oranssimaisesta tai kellertävästä ihonväristä tykkäämisessä ihmetyttää, että ihmiset tykkäävät myös hyvin vaaleasta ihonväristä naisella ja liian kellertävä iho kertoo maksasairaudesta, mutta eiköhän lopulta ole kaikkein tärkeintä, että iho näyttää nuorekkaalta, valoisalta ja terveeltä. Naisilla varsinkin estrogeeni tekee ihon vähän vaaleammaksi lisäten punertavan pheomelaniinin määrää ja vähentäen ruskeamman eumelaniinin määrää. Eurooppalaisilla tietenkin ihonväri on jo huomattavan vaalea, että tätä eroa on vaikea nähdä, mutta nainen on kuitenkin vaaleampi ja punertavampi sukupuoli.
We show, firstly, that both increased carotenoid coloration and increased melanin coloration are found attractive compared to lower levels of these pigments. Secondly, we show that carotenoid coloration is consistently preferred over melanin coloration when levels of coloration are matched. In addition, we find an effect of the sex of stimuli with stronger preferences for carotenoids over melanin in female compared to male faces, irrespective of the sex of the observer. These results are interpreted as reflecting preferences for sex-typical skin coloration: men have darker skin than women and high melanisation in male faces may further enhance this masculine trait, thus carotenoid coloration is not less desirable, but melanin coloration is relatively more desirable in males compared to females. Taken together, our findings provide further support for a carotenoid-linked health-signalling system that is highly important in mate choice.
Lähde - Lisätietoa - Lisätietoa 2

Eurogenes blogissa voi ihmetellä suomalaisen Suvi-Tuuli:n geeniperimää verrattuna tuhansia vuosia sitten kuolleisiin ihmisiin ja kuten yleensä on suomalaisilla paljonkin metsästäjäkeräilijöiden geeniperimää. Naisen blogista löytyi linkki sivustolle, jossa höpötetään paljonkin rasismista ja sieltä löytyi myös 18 Things White People Seem To Not Understand (Because, White Privilege). Olen näistä valkoisten etuoikeuksista aiemmin kertonut, joka on jokseenkin omituista liittyen rotujen olemassaoloon.
White Privilege is living in a world where you are taught that people with your skin tone hold the standard for beauty.
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Ihonvärin vaalentamiseen liittyen voi Google:lla etsiä kirjoituksia käyttämällä jotain tuotemerkkiä hakusanana, kuten esim. Caro light:ia, jolla löytyi alla oleva kirjoitus kenialaiselta sivulta. Noihin mallitoimistoihin liittyen on mielenkiintoista havaita kuinka alla olevassa lainauksessa kerrotaan vaaleamman ihonvärin olevan kuvaamisen kannalta parempi. Olen aiemmin kertonut kuinka vastaavasti kiinalaisen mallitoimiston johtaja totesi eurooppalaisten olevan kuvauksellisempia, koska heillä on kolmiulotteiset kasvot, kun kiinalaisilla tahtoo olla lättänät kasvot. Erikoisesti alla olevassa kirjoituksessa ei tuoda sosiologeille tyypillisesti esille kuinka tässä vaikuttaisi kolonialismi ja länsimaat. Vaikka sosiologit voivat olla vähän oikeassa, niin se ei välttämättä poista sitä, että miehet tai miksei myös naiset voivat yleisesti vaan nähdä vaaleamman ihonvärin kauniimpana naisella.
LIGHT SKIN GOOD, DARK SKIN BAD?

But why all this trouble just for a light skin one might wonder?

Well, a light skin complexion has for a long time now been presumed to be the ideal that’s why most of the top requirements on all casting calls for TV commercials are normally seeking for light complexioned girls.

Think about it: most of the prime TV anchors on our screens are light skinned and although producers and directors have been criticised for placing such emphasis on the complexion, the excuse being, as a renowned casting director in Kenya’s modeling fraternity was once quoted as commenting on the subject, “well, truth be told light skin complexion is more camera friendly”.

IS LIGHT SKIN PRETTIER THAN DARK SKIN?

Sometimes back, popular award winning singer Wahu Kagwi posed the same question on her fan page on Facebook.

“When I was growing up, the definition of a “pretty girl’ was ‘light skin with long hair’. Everything in the media pointed towards this. Being dark skinned, I had obvious self confidence issues, but thankfully, I’m over it. To date, however, it is still a common perception that the lighter you are, the prettier you are. What do you think? Are light skinned girls prettier than dark skinned girls? And why do you think so?”

What followed of course was a series of comments with each fan giving their opinions but a good number of men were of the view that light complexion gives a girl an edge over her dark complexioned counterpart.

So the mentality lingers on that a light skinned complexion is much prettier than dark skin and that is why dark skinned women are putting their health at risk day in day out just to gain a fairer complexion from any available skin lightening creams in the market.
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Taiwanissa asuva valkoinen amerikkalainen nainen kertoo, että millaisia kehuja hän saa ulkonäöstään.
“I use all sorts of things to get my skin that color, and you have it naturally. It’s not fair!”

“If I had white skin and blue eyes, I’d have such a handsome husband too.”

Occasionally, a blunt-minded obasan will say it outright – “you are pretty, because one white hides three uglies!” (Uhhhh, thanks?)
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Skin color has long been a topic of discussion among non-white groups in the United States. How dark- or light-skinned an individual is has been linked to beauty, self-esteem, and life chances. This desire for light skin has become so ubiquitous that a cosmetic product marketed across Mexico called “White Secret” guarantees lighter skin through a process of skin bleaching. These findings suggest that preferences for light-skinned women continue within the Latino community. The issues of skin color and discrimination against dark-skinned women of color have persisted in the Americas, as well as other regions. Latina women are one of the most marginalized groups in the United States; but not all Latina women are the same. This study hopes to begin a discussion that will broaden our understanding of racism and prejudice, how it is practiced, and what some of the consequences might be.
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Skin color plays a significant role in the lives of Ghanaian women. Many Ghanaian women's feelings about beauty, attractiveness and the marriage market are associated with skin complexion. Using sixty Ghanaian students and thirty market trading women, this study investigated skin color (i.e. its lightness-darkness) as a function of social capital in the marriage market. A Skin Color Assessment Procedure was administered to all participants. This study showed that although participants were satisfied with their skin color, they believed that Ghanaian men found lighter-skinned women more attractive. This project expands existing scientific and scholarly literature concerning skin bleaching by presenting the implications of skin bleaching from a psychological perspective.
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a) More often light skin characterized the most beautiful women participants knew.
b) Light skin and long dark hair were described as the most important traits.
c) Participants insisted only light-skinned women win beauty contests.
d) Lighter, smoother skin was suggested by most participants to improve beauty.
e) Participants wanted lighter skin for daughters and darker skin for sons.
f) Few participants admitted to using bleaching creams.
g) Light skin by far was described as the most beautiful.
h) Light-skinned Latinas were described as most beautiful of the world’s women.
i) Light-skinned women were described as attracting the most boyfriends.
j) South American countries were said to have the world’s most beautiful women.
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Prior research on the development of race-based categorization has concluded that children understand the perceptual basis of race categories from as early as age 4 (e.g. Aboud, 1988). However, such work has rarely separated the influence of skin color from other physiognomic features considered by adults to be diagnostic of race categories. In two studies focusing on Black–White race categorization judgments in children between the ages of 4 and 9, as well as in adults, we find that categorization decisions in early childhood are determined almost entirely by attention to skin color, with attention to other physiognomic features exerting only a small influence on judgments as late as middle childhood. We further find that when skin color cues are largely eliminated from the stimuli, adults readily shift almost entirely to focus on other physiognomic features. However, 6- and 8-year-old children show only a limited ability to shift attention to facial physiognomy and so perform poorly on the task. These results demonstrate that attention to ‘race’ in younger children is better conceptualized as attention to skin color, inviting a reinterpretation of past work focusing on children's race-related cognition.
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Google Scholar:sta päädyin erikoisesti blogiin, jossa tarkastellaan varsinkin Intiassa ilmenevää kauneusihannetta kuinka varsinkin vaaleamman ihonvärin omaavia naisia pidetään kauniina. Olen näistä asioista itsekin usein kertonut kuinka on myös näitä erikoisia ja naurettavia mainoksia ihonvärin vaalennustuotteista kuinka vaalentamalla löydät miehen tai sinua luullaan ulkomaalaiseksi.
Mire illustrates, “in 2009, the high-end skin whitening market share for Pacific Asia was estimated to be worth US$18 billion” (2012: 273), with India being “one of the world’s largest skin-lightening markets, with an estimated 60-65% of women using some form of skin-lightening product” (Franklin 2013: 9).

[...]

Skin whitening products have become extremely popular globally. This idea of white skin being superior to dark skin dates back to colonization. Adae-Amoakoh states, “after centuries of imperial rule, Caucasian features and white skin have been established as the hallmarks of beauty and status” (2012). Franklin believes “supporting women in altering their natural phenotypes to conform to a Eurocentric beauty standard only validates the racism and colorism behind the beauty standard itself” (2013: 23). This desire for women to be whiter demonstrates white privilege. Individuals who are white receive more institutional benefits than those of colour. Hence, “in India, lighter skin reflects a position in the presitgous upper caste, while darker skin means you’re part of the poor or lower caste” (Abdullah).

[...]

Note how the man is judging the woman’s skin colour in the ad; however, the man’s skin colour is not judged at all. Sociologist Evelyn Nakano Glenn explains,

women’s worth is judged heavily on the basis of appearance. For example, men who have wealth, education and other forms of human capital are considered “good catches,” while women who are physically attractive may be considered desirable despite the lack of other capital (Franklin 2013: 19)

In this case, one’s male privilege is more important than their race. However, men still do engage in skin whitening practices.

[...]

It would be the hope that by the 21st century, the idea of white being desirable and colour being undesirable would have faded. However, this is not the case. Women and men are willing to put their health at risk in order to look whiter. It is disheartening that this still occurs, and that the world is still not accepting of differences.

[...]

The effects of white privilege work on a scale so that members of other races are rewarded for looking closer to the white dominant group. This is evident in fetishizing “mixed race” people who retain exotic features like full lips paired with what might be considered normal white features like light skin and smooth hair and in the way people who don’t have white skin avoid the sun and tanning at all costs.
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Alla voi katsella Fair and Lovely tuotteen intialaisia mainoksia koskien ihonvärin vaalentamista, joita on eurooppalaisessa mielessä erikoista katsoa, koska eihän tällaisia tuotteita taideta Euroopassa markkinoida, koska enemmän taitaa olla kysyntää ihoa ruskettaville tuotteille. Tämä on myös erikoista länsimaiden vaikutusten kannalta, että eikö muualla pitäisi seurata eurooppalaisten esimerkkiä ja ruskettaa tai olla vaalentamatta ihonväriä, mutta eihän tässä lopulta ole kyse ainoastaan länsimaiden vaikutuksesta vaan Aasiassa myös tykätään vaaleammasta ihonväristä. Tätä asiaa pitäisi tarkemmin tutkia, mutta olettaisin monien Euroopassa myytävien nuorentavien ja ihoa kaunistavien voiteiden sisältävän samanlaisia ominaisuuksia kuin monet ihonvärin vaalennusvoiteet, joilla ihosta pyritään tekemään nuorekkaampi, vaaleampi ja tasaisempi väriltään.

Fair and Lovely - Lisätietoa - Näin kallis voiteesi oikeasti toimii - Näin sitruuna taipuu luonnolliseksi ihonhoitotuotteeksi
In Japan, there was a time when tanned skin in summer was considered highly desirable; in the late 1960s to the mid 1970s, as soon as the fashion for tanned skin among western women came in, with images of women enjoying sunbathing on a beach in trendy places such as Nice, many Japanese women became keen on getting a tan in summer … but by the late 1990s Japanese women no longer unreflectively followed the western fashion. Tanned skin is still very popular and much admired among European people, whereas now very few Japanese women want to get a tan in summer (Ashikari 2005: 85).

When asked why they stay light-skinned, Japanese women say they wish to look 'pretty' (kirei) and 'proper' (chantoshita). They deny any desire to look European and affirm they are adhering to a traditional aesthetic (Ashikari 2005: 85). Indeed, Japan seems to be returning, after a brief hiatus, to a gender norm that existed long before its first contacts with Westerners (Ashikari 2005; Wagatsuma 1967).
Lähde - Shiseido Elixir - Benefique - Mandom Bifesta

Löysin tutkimuksen ihonvärin vaalentamisesta, joten siitä muutama poiminta ja varsinkin itäaasialaisten osalta tulee muistaa, että heidän kulttuurissa pidetään vaaleaa ihonväriä kauniina, joten ei voida väittää sen olevan eurooppalaisten vaikutusta tai aina voi tietysti jotain väittää, mutta siitä huolimatta. Täytyy taas todeta, että tykkään suuresti lukea tutkimuksia, joissa haastatellaan ihmisiä ja tästä tutkimuksesta löytyy myös haastateltujen naisten näkemyksiä. Yksi nainen nähtävästi tunsi muuttuvansa ihonvärin vaalentamisella valkoiseksi, mutta luultavasti kasvonpiirteiden takia näin ei tapahtunut.
Most of the research that has been conducted on this topic has explored women’s motivations for skin bleaching. Some of the research studies have attributed motives for engaging in skin bleaching to conceptions of beauty including such things as measures of attractiveness to the opposite sex, wanting to seem more beautiful (Charles, 2009; Lewis et al., 2011) as well as to remove facial imperfections such as spots or pimples (Hamed et al., 2010; Lewis et al., 2011; Charles, 2009; Menke, 2002; Pierre, 2008). Other reasons have been linked to aspects of ethnic identity and colonial legacies (Hill, 2002; Charles, 2009; Hall, 1995; Hall, 2006) and finally some motivations behind the practice have been attributed to achieving higher social class and benefits within a homogenous population (Lewis et al., 2011; Kpanake et al., 2010).

[...]

Skin bleaching has been taking place throughout the world for quite some time. It has been documented as early as the 1800’s among African Americans in the United States and by the mid 1900’s in other countries such as South Africa (Glenn, 2008). Today the practice has become increasingly more prevalent in many communities throughout the world, including those in India, Europe, North and South America, Latin America, The Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East (Dadzie, 2010; Mire, 2005; Glenn, 2008). In addition, skin bleaching has a huge market in Asia. Countries such as Japan and China have skin whitening (as it is referred to there) markets that are estimated as of 2001, to be worth $ 5.6 billion and over $ 1.3 billion respectively (Mire, 2005). In some communities in African countries, the prevalence rates seem significantly high: 25% in Bamako-Mali, 52% in Dakar, Senegal and 35% in Pretoria South Africa, (Glenn, 2008). In a recent article through BBC News Africa, “one woman in three in South Africa bleaches her skin” (Fihlani, 2012). In Zambia the prevalence rate for skin bleaching is given at 60%, 58% in Lome- Togo (Kombaté et al., 2012) and 77% in Lagos, Nigeria (Glenn, 2008).

[...]

The motive to become lighter, or have lighter skin was expressed in different ways by four participants. One participant noted quite clearly: “I felt I was getting too dark in the summer, the sun made me too dark. People used to say ‘you look so dark’ and I noticed in my pictures I look darker than my real color.” When asked what her main reason was for engaging in this process, she expressed unequivocally “to get white.” Similarly another participant cited her motive as to obtain light skin, saying: “I think because I was too dark.” Another participant, who cited acne as her main reason for engaging, also expressed the idea of liking lighter skin. According to her, the process of skin bleaching/skin lightening would make: “my skin, my color more visible.”

[...]

I don’t know. I got fair. After the [first] month I was happy. I was like yes, I’ma get the color that I want. We going somewhere. I became light, then lighter, until I had to stop. I was becoming too light. But people didn’t treat me any different when I got light. I mean I was getting conceited, feeling myself too much then I started thinking Im white. I expect to happen, was Id get more better treatment at work, right, maybe like a different type a guy would look at me, not just the bums, the deadbeats, the bottom of the rack ones. I guess if I really think, what I expected didn’t really happen.
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Etsin lisää ihonvärin vaalentamista käsitteleviä tutkimuksia ja löysin tutkimuksen, jossa käsitellään Thaimaata. Olen poiminut alle muutamia mielenkiintoisia kohtia, joista eurasialaisen ja blasianin ulkonäkö on sellainen asia, jonka olen tuonut jo aiemmin esille, että eurasialaiset ovat useimmin paremman näköisiä kuin mulatit ja blasianit.
Influences of Indian thought systems are evident across all of South East Asia. According to Indian caste systems and myths, the ideal of ‘whiteness’ played a role in Asian society in subtle forms even before European colonization of Africa, Asia and the world. In most of Asia, the fairer skin one has, the higher the future marriage partner’s social class could be. The idealization of the ‘perfect’ marriage and fair skin is buried deeply in the minds of Asian women. Fair skin is believed to symbolize youthfulness and high quality in women. In Thailand, fair skin symbolizes health and wealth. In China, it is saidthat a man will find happiness and a good marriagewith a fair-skinned bride (Bird et al. 2010).

[...]

The story is mainly based on the path and lifestyle of 2 sisters named Deuan and Dam who have the same mother; Deuan is half Caucasian while Dam is part African-American. While others treat Deuan kindly because of her beautiful fair skin, Dam is humiliated because of her dark skin and is considered ugly.

[...]

Beauty magazines in Thailand feature the testimonials of Korean and Japanese stars in order to promote the idea of fair white skin, with slogans such as: confidence boosting, glowing enhancement and white skin miracle. There are many advertisements with similar propaganda across Asia-Pacific. It is expected that the whitener business will reach two thousand billion USD in 2011, while the most growth expectancy is in China and India.

[...]

Western beauty was established through the beauty and physically fit bodies of statues of Olympian gods, such as Venus or the Apollo Belvedere, and these ideals also evolved in each culture. Franz Joseph Gall, a German physician (1758−1828), studied distinctive physical features through skull measurements, and indicated the link between race and beauty. He presented a contradictory picture be tween the European perfection of beauty and the similarity of apes to black African persons (Young 1995, p. 96). Once a clear line is made between beauty and ugliness, therefore, the inclination of the people would decide the best forms in which the idea of race is used to distinguish varieties of bodily perfection. Globalization and commerce resonates with norms of beauty, through marketing trends and fashion. As culture shapes environment, the manufacturing of products that serve human needs fulfills the economical gains and individual self-gratification.
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Alla olevassa tutkimuksessa kerrotaan kuinka huomattava osa senegalilaisen naisen tuloista menee ihonvärin vaalentamiseen, joka on kylläkin valitettavaa, kun rahan voisi käyttää muuhunkin, mutta näin se on myös länsimaissa, että naisilla kuluu paljonkin rahaa kauneutensa ylläpitämiseen.
Introduction. As throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the use of skin-lightening (or brightening or bleaching) products is widespread in Senegal (67%). Although the medical and social determinants of this phenomenon have been documented, its cost is poorly defined. Thus, this work aims to evaluate the economic effects of skin bleaching on women's income. Methodology. A cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive survey was conducted in 2010 ( October 7 to November 8 ) among women consulting for outpatient care at a reference dermatology clinic for complications related to use of skin-lightening products. We calculated the direct costs (products) and indirect costs (transportation costs, medical fees, dermatological treatment of complications). The social damage (pain and suffering and esthetics) was assessed. Results. This study included 65 women; their mean age was 33 years and 26% had not attended school. In all, 52% were merchants, 29% housewives, 9% civil servants, and 5% students. The average duration of product use was 9 years, and the mean age at onset of use, 23 years. Most (80%) had a low income (<100 000 FCFA or US $204). The total monthly income of the 65 women in the study was 5 675 000 CFA (US $ 11 582). The total monthly cost of skin lightening for them was 1081 658 CFA (US $ 2207), that is, 19% of their total income. The esthetic harm was categorized as moderate by 20% and high by 22%. Conclusion. This study opens perspectives for further studies of the intangible costs of skin bleaching and for increasing awareness of the complications and social damage induced.
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Alla olevassa tutkimuksessa käsitellään lyhyesti somalien ihonvärin vaalentamista ja näiden vaalennuksessa käytettävien voiteiden terveydelle haitallista koostumusta. Jos oikein ymmärsin alla olevan lainauksen sisältöä on vaalean ihonvärin ihannointi osa somalien kulttuuria. Tutkija kertoo kuinka somalinaiset näkevät vaaleamman ihonvärin kauniina. Kyse ei kuitenkaan ole siitä, miten naiset näkevät vaan tutkimukset selvästi osoittavat miesten tykkäävän yleisesti vaaleammista naisista, kun taas naiselle kelpaa useimmin tummempi mies.
Although Somalis living in Minnesota are adapting to the ways of their new homeland, many retain traditional values. One of those is about beauty. Most Somali women believe lighter skin is more beautiful than darker skin. They see having light skin as more socially acceptable and believe it will increase their chances of finding a husband. Consequently, many Somali women living in the United States use skin-lightening products. These products, which were widely used in Africa, are thought to eliminate imperfections and even out skin tone. Some of these creams and soaps have been found to contain in organic mercury.
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Why do many African women continue to use damaging skin-bleaching cosmetics that contain dangerous chemicals (e.g., mercury) that may increase their rates of infertility, skin cancer, and serious skin/brain/kidney disease? To address this question, our study investigated motivations driving the preservation of skin-bleaching practices in Tanzania. We conducted qualitative interviews with 42 urban women in Dar es Salaam who reported engaging in skin-bleaching practices and who were a subset of a larger sample of women from a study investigating the prevalence of skin bleaching in Tanzania. Results yielded six thematic motivations behind the practice of skin bleaching: (a) to remove pimples, rashes, and skin disease; (b) to have soft skin; (c) to be White, “beautiful,” and more European looking; (d) to remove the adverse affects of extended skin bleaching use on the body; (e) to satisfy one’s partner and/or attract male mates; and (f) to satisfy and impress peers. These findings provide empirical support for skin bleaching being linked to self-objectification, colonialism, and Westernization. Skin bleaching is discussed in the context of other potentially harmful body modification practices in which women participate as a result of external and internalized standards of beauty. Implications for future research and potential practice and policy interventions are discussed.
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