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Does society prefer light-skinned people?

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Everyone is pretty much conditioned to prefer light skinned. Alot of people don't want to admit it tho but it is pushed greatly through media
 
Sanky Panky said:
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This thread is endorsed by white Sammy Sosa.
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I won't speak for other south american countries, but where I live (Argentina's capital city), society tends to look down on dark-skinned people. Then again, some people reject others over here "because they're black on the inside", which means they dress, talk or do stuff that we typically associate with bottom-class citizens.

I'd say that this problem comes from the very foundation of our society, as the words "white" and "black" themselves carry some heavy context within them (white = light, pureness, virginity, good; black = darkness, shadows, evil). That point about farmers being easily distinguishable from noblemen due to their tanned skin flew over me until I just read it here.
 
Tence said:
Why isn't it? OP mentioned certain Asian countries where lighter skin was preferred (and where they actually use whiteners to get a lighter skin)

However they do so because of their own cultural reasoning...not to look like Westeners. So if you want to take tanning out of the equasion...you'd also have to take out whiteners..and the actual reason some asians want to look white.

Light tanned vs dark tanned in Asia has little to do with the West. So I guess it is up to the OP to state what he discuss here. Whites vs blacks, or lighter skin vs darker skin.
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Not to look like westerners? Have you ever heard of double eyelid surgery? Asians who strive for a lighter complexion do so because they deem it attractive because of the West's influence. So really, they're striving to have more Western features. I mean, this is fairly typical in a society where nosejobs are advertised like Dollar Menu deals.
 
lil smoke said:
I am black. The worst is when a white person asks or suggest, why I need or ever want to tan.

Yup, no black person can get any darker than black, oh no.

Hey that is OUR hobby! Get inside!
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How is that possible?!
 
I don't think men suffer from this "preference". Plenty of women like a darker toned guy. Women do though.
 
Ties said:
Not to look like westerners? Have you ever heard of double eyelid surgery? Asians who strive for a lighter complexion do so because they deem it attractive because of the West's influence. So really, they're striving to have more Western features. I mean, this is fairly typical in a society where nosejobs are advertised like Dollar Menu deals.
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I am not saying there isn't a Western influence, I am saying the white is more beautiful thing is already WAY older then Western influence.
 
Ties said:
Not to look like westerners? Have you ever heard of double eyelid surgery? Asians who strive for a lighter complexion do so because they deem it attractive because of the West's influence. So really, they're striving to have more Western features. I mean, this is fairly typical in a society where nosejobs are advertised like Dollar Menu deals.
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In Japan, at least, the desire for paleness has been around for quite some time without the influence of westerners. It has more to do with the split between the aristocracy who did not have to work and the peasants in the field. The other things you mention are newer and likely related to western influence.
 
Definitely with females, less so with males.

"Tall, dark, and handsome" is a real thing. Note that "dark" does not necessarily mean "black" though, only darker.
 
crozier said:
Definitely with females, less so with males.

"Tall, dark, and handsome" is a real thing. Note that "dark" does not necessarily mean "black" though, only darker.
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I always thought that was a reference to hair and eyes, not skin tone.
 
Yado said:
Men suffer it as well, women take this stuff into consideration. Especially if they're planning a family.
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It's not a barrier to attraction though. Women "generally" tend to like tall and built men. Black guys generally fit into this criteria. But the family part may be true in some communities (but that would affect all people not of the same race).
 
Lissar said:
I always thought that was a reference to hair and eyes, not skin tone.
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I had to Google this one because I'm not sure. I have heard it referring to complexion before, though, on more than one occasion (in addition to hair and eyes). Online it says the origins may be personality rather than physical attributes. So who knows what it's supposed to mean?
 
crozier said:
I had to Google this one because I'm not sure. I have heard it referring to complexion before, though, on more than one occasion (in addition to hair and eyes). Online it says the origins may be personality rather than physical attributes. So who knows what it's supposed to mean?
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I think it means a tanned dark haired western european
 
Beyoncé does NOT bleach her flawless skin. She sometimes looks darker because of a tan. Like most people usually do. Her natural skintone is pretty pale.

Look at her parents..
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Bey just looks more like her mother. Who's also light-skinned
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So let's not
 
crozier said:
I had to Google this one because I'm not sure. I have heard it referring to complexion before, though, on more than one occasion (in addition to hair and eyes). Online it says the origins may be personality rather than physical attributes. So who knows what it's supposed to mean?
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Dark could mean mysterious.
 
I'm a somewhat light-skinned Mexican and I'll admit that I avoid spending too much time under the sun so I don't tan and look darker, especially since I tan easily.
 
Mr. Serious Business said:
There's no such thing as a "healthy" tan.

But yes, appearance wise, there is a preference for tanning.
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entrement said:
Tans are temporary. I think the OP is talking about naturally born light-skinned people
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Well i'm talking about the sort of aesthetic preference that we see in media. White folks tan, and skin lightning for darker folk. Photoshop used on both sides. Seems there is a desirable middle ground. But asia it seems fairer is better across the board.

I'm strictly talking outside of racial bounds as well here.
 
A lot of white people tan their skin. Does that mean society prefers dark skinned people?

But yes generally men prefer women to have fairer skin, I remember reading about it but I can't remember what the reasons were.
 
Absolutely. The media pumps this out 24/7, and even before the mass media was in place you had the whole class based nonsense of aristocrat/peasant laborer fueling it. Toss in positive associations with light/pure/holy and negative ones like dark/tainted/evil and it just gets worse.

It was heartbreaking seeing some black and hispanic kids consistently pick the white dolls when asked which one was most beautiful (all the dolls were the same aside from skin tone).
 
The Abominable Snowman said:
Definitely NOT TRUE

Brazil especially. Dark or "black" people still aren't allowed in 'posh' nightclubs. Much like MOST of the world, the darker you are, the more you are seen as lower class. If you are 'hip black' (That is, the black who dresses or acts like the blacks do in popular media) then you may be ok, but generally anything seen as afrocentric is looked down upon.

http://blackwomenofbrazil.co/2012/03/17/spike-lee-will-make-a-documentary-about-brazil/

http://blackwomenofbrazil.co/2012/0...that-all-brazilians-are-blond-with-blue-eyes/

http://blackwomenofbrazil.co/2012/02/19/nega-maluca-and-the-popularization-of-blackface-in-brazil-2/

Moreover, skin bleaching and lightening is VERY popular in many Latin countries, as well as Africa and Jamaica
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This x3 and just as bad is the Dominican Republic in which 70% of the population is of straight African descent.
 
Baki said:
It's not a barrier to attraction though. Women "generally" tend to like tall and built men. Black guys generally fit into this criteria. But the family part may be true in some communities (but that would affect all people not of the same race).
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Race and skin tone are definitely a barrier to attraction.
Do you think black men are generally considered to be more desirable than men of other races?
 
EuropeOG said:
A lot of white people tan their skin. Does that mean society prefers dark skinned people?

But yes generally men prefer women to have fairer skin, I remember reading about it but I can't remember what the reasons were.
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Pretty much. I find it sex-specific. My best friend is asian and she doesn't think tans look good on women but do on men.
 
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