The Issue of Skin Color Discrimination and Its Effects
Skin color is a trait that humans are born with, and there are many types and colors that each unique individual may possess. However, these differences have been negatively viewed and applied by society, segregating people simply based on the color of their skin. So, let's research this topic more deeply in "Skin Color Discrimination Essay" paper.
From as early as the 18th century, the concept of skin color separation among people in society had already become prevalent. In fact, it has shaped several events in the world history, including slavery and colonization. This mentality formed and developed differently depending on the geographical location. To illustrate, the countries colonized by Europeans were led to believe that white skin was a symbol of dominance and high status. In India, the dark skinned were associated to being poor and of working class, resulting in laboring outside, in contrast to the white skinned who signified great wealth. In Japan, white-lead powder was invented for aesthetic purposes of the upper and middle class, as ivory-like skin was idolized by the Japanese. These mindsets remained in society and continued to evolve throughout the many years and generations.
In present times, skin color discrimination is still very much evident in the society we live in today, affecting both the social and economic aspects of the lives of many. More specifically, people are still treated differently based on their skin color due to the prevalence of colorism separation and light-skin obsession in society. The fact that humans have varying appearances, including skin color, is already enough for discrimination to arise between these individuals. As stated by Jablonski, “Humans wouldn’t be so interested in skin color if it weren’t for the fact that we are highly visual animals. We form our impressions of others and the world around us primarily through what we see”. This implies that our initial basis for the judgment of others relies on how we view them visually.
Blair, et al. argues that this is not necessarily an unfair method, as the appearance of a person often provides a lot of cues about the person and his/her behavior. However, it proves to be negative once we overgeneralize these features and start associating them with respective traits, which obviously do not apply to everyone. As a result of these fallacious and stereotypical beliefs, a mentality known as colorism arises.
According to the study of Hochschild et al. , colourism can be defined as the skin color or tone of a person being the basis of the perception and behaviour of other people towards that person. It is used as a form of discrimination or prejudice involving people, their skin color, and the social meaning attached to it. For instance, people who are known to have more Afrocentric features have a higher probability of being negatively viewed and misjudged by society, according to survey results. As a result of colourism, a skin color hierarchy is constructed in our society. This hierarchy segregates people based on their skin color, wherein the people who are light skinned are placed over those who are dark skinned. The higher status, being the light skinned, are given more privileges than those of dark skin. Such privileges favor the life outcomes of the person, such as a significantly better educational attainment, income, and spousal status. To illustrate, in the context of Mexican American and African American women, studies show that those who are of lighter skin receive more education (measured in years) as compared to those with darker skin. These two variables, being skin color and educational attainment, share a relationship which proves that the lighter the skin, the more years of education a person has. Therefore, as Hunter stated in his study, that in terms of statistics, it can be said that skin color significantly affects one’s education.
The same kind of relationship is seen between the two variables of skin color and annual income. These variables show that the lighter the skin, the higher the annual earning. In terms of spousal status, it was hypothesized that lighter skin color for a spouse symbolizes high status, and since high-status people are more likely to marry one another, then it can be concluded that those of lighter skin typically belong to high-status marriages. These benefits that are exclusive to the light skinned suggest that there is indeed a divided hierarchy in society, only providing opportunities to people whose skin colors and appearance is favored. The wide acceptance of light skin in our society results in the great desire to attain this appearance. This creates an obsession with white skin, encouraging skin color discrimination even further. People tend to perceive light skin as the goal of beauty, and is often considered the preferred or desired trait by the majority of people. Shaped by the standards of society, many grow up to believe that white skin is synonymous to beauty. This negatively affects people who are of color, as they led to feel disempowered and oppressed as compared to those with whiter skin and European features.
Lately, different methods of ethnic cosmetic surgery and skin whitening have been on the rise, and the obsession of society with white skin is to blame. After all, lighter skin is known to provide more benefits in the global marketplace both economically and socially. As a result, it is common for many people to yearn for these privileges that having this skin offers. Another possible factor that can be taken to consideration is the demand for body modifications that fit the global beauty standards created by society. Such modifications include rhinoplasty or nose jobs, cheiloplasty or lip reduction surgery, and lastly East Asian blepharoplasty, a surgery commonly done in countries such as South Korea in an attempt to replicate western looking eyes on Asians, or in other words double eyelid surgery. Furthermore, some people desire white skin so badly that they go as far as using illegal creams and skin bleaching products that put their health at risk. These products contain ingredients that are typically harmful, such as hydroquinone, mercury, and cortiscosteroids, but are believed to be more effective. The products were banned by Trading Standards officers around the United Kingdom, however the creams constantly find their way back into the market due to the great demand for them.
Knowing that white skin is obsessed by society, many industries and multinational corporations tend to sustain and exploit this notion in order to gain enormous profits in the global marketplace. For instance, the amount of whitening products that exist in the skincare market are countless, and continue to increase in number as we know it. In fact, the multi-billion-dollar global whitening market is expected to grow to US$19. 8 billion this year as of 2018. On the other hand, white skin obsession can also be seen in the magazine industry. For instance, according to Alexandra Shulman, the editor of British Vogue, it is believed that in order to avoid the chance of reduced sales in magazines, not choosing people of color to be on the cover is an effective strategy. This is due to the fact that people of color on magazine covers do not sell as much as when white people are, as magazines must appeal to what society wants to sell. Furthermore, in magazines, people of color are digitally altered in order that their skin would appear shades lighter as compared to their natural tone.
One recent occurrence was when Lupita Nyong’o, the star actress in the film 12 Years a Slave, appeared noticeably lighter than her actual skin color in the well-known Vanity Fair magazine, showing digital modifications of the photographs. However, this was not the first case wherein people of color were digitally altered in order to appear lighter, as it had happened many times before with celebrities such as Rebecca Ferguson and India Arie. Whether or not these models were purposely whitened or just appeared to have an unnatural tone due to artificial lighting methods, the message is still clear. These people of color are not light enough to be featured on mainstream media by the standards of society.
The fact that people are treated based on their skin color prove that the cases of skin discrimination and separation that are found in many history books are still very much alive in current times, just in different forms. People need not to believe in the social constructs that society has put up regarding the politics of beauty. In order to achieve equality between people of different shades and color, these negative mentalities must be erased. Though it will likely take many generations for this ideology to be removed, one crucial contribution that can be done as of now is stop supporting whitening cosmetics and surgeries. Although humans may vary in appearances, it should not be a call for criticism and separation, rather, a call for celebration.
