If you were to type in “beautiful girls” into the Google search engine and go to images the only females shown are with traditionally European features and light skin. A study by William Janowiak and associates found that those of Eastern Asian background are more fond of large eyes and pale skin, which Westerners are typically portrayed with, to be more aesthetically pleasing. Another race’s analysis of European features reflect a similar report, the infamous “Doll Test”; the babydoll test, first conducted in the 1940s by psychologist Mamie and Kenneth Clark, show children who are asked to choose the more beautiful babydoll. Ages three to seven were used in the experiment and the preponderance of the children choose dolls that were white.
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By only turning on the television in 2016, it is clear that the black male is seen as an imminent danger to society, no matter the age. It is a constant idea that black men are absent from a child’s life, a constant idea that people questioned my life with. My father is involved in my life, and my father is not absent, or a threat to American society, something that should not have to be said but I will most likely have to say until his demise. In modern media today it is typical to see a black male absent from a child’s life, to see the black males on the streets, or black males acting violently towards women. Even in black culture itself, black women themselves are held at a Eurocentric beauty standard. Black women are constantly portrayed with light-skin, straight hair, small noses, and small lips, straying away from the typical image of an African American female. Filipino-American culture is no better, like most Asian cultures, light skin, and big eyes are thought to be of importance. From both family members and friends I am constantly told that I am not “black enough” or I am not “Asian enough” causing an internal conflict with my cultures constantly. My lowest point in the struggle with both cultures and Western beauty standards was in seventh grade; I was ashamed of my large nose, of my small eyes, and curly hair to the point where I covered my nose …show more content…
I have struggled with the concepts and the beauty standards in my cultures my entire life and will always be torn with my racial identity and the fight to realize that Eurocentrism, although a dominant factor in our society, does not reign true. Beauty is subjective, different, and odd. Beauty is different between cultures but beauty is self-love. Although, it was hard for me to me to accept the juxtaposition between my racial cultures, I realized that although culture is important to have, it should not detail your life or what your heart desires. I guess I was always in Beyoncé’s version of formation after
By only turning on the television in 2016, it is clear that the black male is seen as an imminent danger to society, no matter the age. It is a constant idea that black men are absent from a child’s life, a constant idea that people questioned my life with. My father is involved in my life, and my father is not absent, or a threat to American society, something that should not have to be said but I will most likely have to say until his demise. In modern media today it is typical to see a black male absent from a child’s life, to see the black males on the streets, or black males acting violently towards women. Even in black culture itself, black women themselves are held at a Eurocentric beauty standard. Black women are constantly portrayed with light-skin, straight hair, small noses, and small lips, straying away from the typical image of an African American female. Filipino-American culture is no better, like most Asian cultures, light skin, and big eyes are thought to be of importance. From both family members and friends I am constantly told that I am not “black enough” or I am not “Asian enough” causing an internal conflict with my cultures constantly. My lowest point in the struggle with both cultures and Western beauty standards was in seventh grade; I was ashamed of my large nose, of my small eyes, and curly hair to the point where I covered my nose …show more content…
I have struggled with the concepts and the beauty standards in my cultures my entire life and will always be torn with my racial identity and the fight to realize that Eurocentrism, although a dominant factor in our society, does not reign true. Beauty is subjective, different, and odd. Beauty is different between cultures but beauty is self-love. Although, it was hard for me to me to accept the juxtaposition between my racial cultures, I realized that although culture is important to have, it should not detail your life or what your heart desires. I guess I was always in Beyoncé’s version of formation after