Skin Whitening Products And Treatments?

Coming from Singapore,there are plenty of skin whitening products.

For your information,Singapore is a majority Chinese country with a smaller percentage of Malays (that's my race),Indians and others such as Eurasians and Arabs.

Some of my friends are totally obsessed about having fairer skin and see it as a symbol of beauty. People with fair skin are envied.

I remember going into one shop here in Singapore which I believe comes from Korea that don't even cater products to people of darker skin tone.I was shocked!

During my travels,I met many white people saying how they wished they can have my skin colour.I remember saying I wish I have your skin colour!

I have olive skin.In my younger years,I too wished that I have fairer skin.Now,I can proudly say that I love my skin colour even if some people here don't agree!:)

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bijouxbroussard · F

Is this the result of colonialism, or has this always been so in Asian cultures (if you know) ?

In the U.S. there was a time when skin lightening products (Nadinola and Artra, for example) were popular among some African Americans. I know in our case it was because of Eurocentric beauty standards, and the fact that because of the “one drop rule”, people classified as “black” here come in all colors, with lighter skinned people traditionally having had a few more advantages.

IHTBY · 41-45, F

@bijouxbroussard It seems to me that it has always been this way.

bowman81 · M

@bijouxbroussard Funny how us white folks slathered on Coppertone and baby oil and baked ourselves in the sun to get darker. There is still a booming business in skin cancer causing tanning booths. Is anyone ever satisfied with how they look? The PT Barnum's of this world will always take advantage to make a buck.

How much money has been made on make up, hair dye, work out videos, fad diets, and worse. All taking advantage of our wish to find that one little thing, that magic potion #9, that will make us happy/successful/content. The fountain of youth awaits!

Fashion, perfume, or "male enhancement"/testosterone supplements? Nothing is off limits. If they can make you feel bad about something the snake oil salesmen will take advantage. They are laughing all the way to the bank.

bijouxbroussard · F

@bowman81 While it’s true that suntans have been fashionable for many people, it’s probably never been a deciding factor on whether or not one got a job, housing or even acceptance in certain clubs. There have been fraternities, sororities, within the black community itself that discriminated based upon color, even during Jim Crow. And whites were largely unaware, although they expressed a preference for lighter skinned black people in certain jobs as well.

thewindupbirdchronicles · 46-50, M

@bijouxbroussard I wish I knew, though I do expect how pretty one is might still factor how they get promotion? I'm kinda expecting, execs at my work loved promoting the current HR woman. She's pretty and attractive. Playing in a boys club, I'd say she did well, but this is beyond a race issue itself and more displaying how weak knee some companies are, while displaying the same annoying, you are the best because you are attractive, they might as well ask, can I have sex with you for promoting you?

bijouxbroussard · F

@thewindupbirdchronicles Yes, but it’s an extra facet to sexism—how "pretty" is defined. And when the adverts I was discussing were popular, lighter skinned black men shared that advantage.

thewindupbirdchronicles · 46-50, M

@bijouxbroussard Understood and I'm sure racism can apply here, I was more illustrating its deeper in this one.

bijouxbroussard · F

@thewindupbirdchronicles Of course, that’s the point, alas. It’s not just about how people outside these communities see us. It’s how we’ve come to see ourselves. It’s always going to be more difficult for women because women’s looks are considered more important and self-defining.