I am an eighteen year old interracial female, I have experienced both sexism and racism in my life. Due to my complexion being lighter I have not encountered racism or sexism as harshly as those who have a darker complexion. Colorism in the African American, Asian, Latino, and Hispanic communities is an issue that is downplayed. Colorism comes from internalized and systematic racist beliefs that lighter is better in regards to skin color. We as a society have been conditioned to believe European features are more superior to those of different origins. As a result, people around the world use unsafe skin lightening creams and other bleaching products. In Asia there is a skin bleaching product called “Fair & Lovely”, however, a 21 year old Texan, Pax Jones has started a campaign called “Unfair & Lovely” which combats the belief that fairer skin is more beautiful than darker skin.
Mass media plays a major role in what we see as desirable and undesirable, …show more content…
They build up these insecurities which lead them to stay out of the sun, wear lighter make up, or lighten their skin in unsafe ways. People are made fun of for being too dark and they are also targeted. People with darker skin are stereotyped as uneducated, dirty, and criminals. When seen on television they are the thugs and the gang members. Black women are fetishized and seen as objects more so than people, however, they are seen as undesirable when it comes to relationships and marriage. In the movies or television shows the light skin women always “get the man” over the darker skinned “best friend”. Latinos, Hispanics, and Asians are also stereotyped in the media, their women are seen as exotic and, their men are seen as criminals. The way darker skinned men and women are seen is harmful to society and them individually and the way they are viewed as less than needs to be
Mass media plays a major role in what we see as desirable and undesirable, …show more content…
They build up these insecurities which lead them to stay out of the sun, wear lighter make up, or lighten their skin in unsafe ways. People are made fun of for being too dark and they are also targeted. People with darker skin are stereotyped as uneducated, dirty, and criminals. When seen on television they are the thugs and the gang members. Black women are fetishized and seen as objects more so than people, however, they are seen as undesirable when it comes to relationships and marriage. In the movies or television shows the light skin women always “get the man” over the darker skinned “best friend”. Latinos, Hispanics, and Asians are also stereotyped in the media, their women are seen as exotic and, their men are seen as criminals. The way darker skinned men and women are seen is harmful to society and them individually and the way they are viewed as less than needs to be