Comments on: Ethnic cleansing by L’Oreal: “Because you’re worth less?”

By: A look at tanning as well?

A look at tanning as well? — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:51:53 +0000

While you’re at it, what about the harm that tanning can do to the skin? This Western fad/pressure to always have sun-kissed skin is giving young girls photodamaged skin and exposing women to potentially dangerous chemicals, as well as higher rates of skin cancer.

I’m from Asia and somewhat annoyed that there is a double standard that only skin whitening is going under the microscope and that the beauty practises of the West are not undergoing scrutiny. Among the cosmopolitan youth, being mixed-race and of varied cultural background is currently fashionable. I can say being “pasty white” is not. When East Asians bleach their skin, it is -not- to appear Caucasian but rather a throwback to times when white skin meant you were of the upper class, and this was long before white people arrived in Asia. Call the overzealous bleaching of some countries what you will, but I would prefer that you highlight the dangers in beauty practises such as this, and not bring racial politics into it. We could do much the same for the ridiculous lengths to which some white people go to achieve the ideal tan.

The video I posted summarises everything perfectly IMO.

By: from canada

from canada — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:50:36 +0000

gosh… listen to this… I went to shoppers drug mart’s cosmetic section today with my mom.. we are brown but my mom is very lightttttt skin but you can tell she is south asian i guess because of her black hair and black eyes (just so you get the point after) there was this african lady working there in the cosmetic section, my mom went to her to ask something about this lipstick shade and she was about the ask her but then this white blonde lady comes from behind to ask the same cosmetician some question. so following is how that black cosmetician reacted: she completely ignoredddddd my mom by not even listening to what her question could have been and by simply saying “whatever we have is on the shelf” and then looked at the blonde lady saying “how may I help you”. I was at the back looking at same fragrances I got so fuckin pissed off at that black cosmetician but my mom was like “its ok she probably thinks blonde people are more worthy of attention of cosmetician than us so lets go” my mom is very innocent but that black lady was huh. I wonder if she would have reacted the same way if it was blonde and black not blonde vs brown. I hate that black lady and that black lady makes me want to hate alll the black ladies that look like her coz they makes me want to think as if they are going to treat my mom the same way.

By: Bloodmoney

Bloodmoney — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:54:25 +0000

Interestingly enough, the whole thing started off in Europe. In the early days, womenfolk of the aristocracy used to be hidden in palaces and castles and had little or no exposure to the sun. Hence they had this incredibly white skin, and that became a benchmark to live up to.

That changed quite a bit in the 20th century, when the commonfolk didn’t have to toil in the fields in the sun all day long.

Then, a new standard of prosperity emerged – rich people who took leisurely vacations in sunny lands. And the gorgeous women who could afford these vacations started to come back from them tanned. Therefore a new standard for beautiful skin – tan.

All said and done, the idea is that the rich people have always been the role models, and always will be. Not much a well-meaning dismayed outcry can do about it.