Right? I am pale as snow and man I envy people who can just throw on shorts and walk outside without concern because I am an absolute reflective hazard. I could blind someone!
Internalised oppression. Because of European colonisation, white skin has been equated to beauty and higher status in former colonies.
However, even before European colonisation, fairer skin has always been seen as a status symbol. Fairer skin means someone wealthy enough not to work outside being exposed to the sun.
It is not one or the other explanation by the way, these two coalesced. But in some countries that were never colonised by Europeans, the answer for obsession with lighter skin is number 2.
I think the obsession with hard work only came much more recently in history. I’d say we can blame the North European Protestant work ethic for that one.
WTF is the obsession with being light skinned. Even Vietnamese people are like this.
In India, skin color may also have to do with caste level.
Right? I am pale as snow and man I envy people who can just throw on shorts and walk outside without concern because I am an absolute reflective hazard. I could blind someone!
Grass is always greener, I guess…
Two reasons:
Internalised oppression. Because of European colonisation, white skin has been equated to beauty and higher status in former colonies.
However, even before European colonisation, fairer skin has always been seen as a status symbol. Fairer skin means someone wealthy enough not to work outside being exposed to the sun.
It is not one or the other explanation by the way, these two coalesced. But in some countries that were never colonised by Europeans, the answer for obsession with lighter skin is number 2.
I thought people valued hard work, why would they idolize a symbol of being lazy?
I think the obsession with hard work only came much more recently in history. I’d say we can blame the North European Protestant work ethic for that one.