Yay another rant!!
I found out about the fair and lovely cream when I went to Pakistan a couple of years ago. I had gone into a store to buy some water and when I walked in I saw this shop assistant. She was clearly Asian (her neck and hands were brown) but her face was white. Really pale white.
It was kind of strange, but I didn’t really think anything of it until my sister brought it up later, and I found out that it was a combination of a really pale foundation and the fair and lovely bleaching cream. I found that this cream is really popular in South Asian countries, because women want to look like the “beautiful, fair, western” ones they see in foreign films and television. I watched every advert I could find online and I was shocked. The adverts were awful. In each video the narrator went through the benefits of the cream, and obviously the main “benefit” is that it makes your skin lighter. However, many of the videos called this ‘anti dullness treatment’. Seriously!!!! So if you are dark your skin is just dull, and is an issue that needs to be resolved. ????? How are people ever supposed to be comfortable with their own skin colour if they grow up in a country where being dark is seen as a problem?
I am really grateful that I live in a very multicultural city, meaning where I can feel comfortable (most of the time) with my skin colour and race. But lots of people aren’t lucky. They live in places like Pakistan and Bangladesh, which aren’t very accepting of certain people. And it is really sad that so many people are growing up with these horrible ideas of ‘fair skin or nothing’.
It sucks that western countries have impacted so negatively on other countries, particularly those in South Asia. You should be able to look in the mirror and feel great about yourself. I know this is much easier said than done, but it isn’t helped by living in a society where you are seen as ugly because you are dark. Skin colour also plays a big part in the other industries (film, music). A lot of the famous Bollywood stars aren’t exactly the darkest Asians.
Anywayyyy, I am just putting my opinion out there. Fair isn’t always lovely.
Stay fresh
Minty x
February 5, 2017 at 1:39 am
amazing and so insightful for one so young x
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February 25, 2017 at 10:09 am
you know, a shitload of people here in Africa bleach too and I have no idea why. The truth is bleaching virtually destroys your skin. You’d see this beautiful lady walk past you only to figure that she has rainbow colored skin because bleaching never really gives an even tone.
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February 25, 2017 at 10:27 am
it’s such a sad problem that is apparent in so many cultures, and the worst part is that it’s a growing issue.
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February 25, 2017 at 10:30 am
yeah, but most people don’t really care about it and I guess most people who bleach feel like it makes them prettier in a way.
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February 25, 2017 at 10:32 am
definitely, but that is what scares me. This image of beauty that has been drummed into people’s minds. That why I’m happy I don’t live in Pakistan- I’m not caught up in the mindset they have there.
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February 25, 2017 at 10:42 am
Most of them are just insecure or uncomfortable in their own skin you can’t really blame them because its all really were society stirs them.
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February 25, 2017 at 10:51 am
exactly, it’s literally part of their mindset- like its normal for them to have a goal to get lighter skin. It’s crazy, but I does make me grateful that I have been brought up in London.
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February 25, 2017 at 10:54 am
true.
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February 26, 2017 at 4:24 pm
PERFECT, nothing more. Also, I’ve done a similar post- quite some time back 🙂
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February 26, 2017 at 4:32 pm
Thank you so much! I’ll check it out now 🙂
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February 26, 2017 at 8:36 pm
Love your blog! Your posts are so insightful and well written 🙂
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February 26, 2017 at 8:37 pm
thank you so much Alifya- that means a lot!
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February 27, 2017 at 7:20 am
Great post, i distinctively remember my grandmas spreading this across my face everyday and getting mad because i did’t get any lighter- eventhough she was darker than me lol.
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February 27, 2017 at 8:05 am
Hahaha it’s sad how often it happens!
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February 27, 2017 at 1:55 pm
Hahaha poor you 😦 it’s so sad how normalised it has become!
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February 27, 2017 at 9:56 am
I agreee! Your thoughts are just like wow.
I love rant posts so much (idk why)
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February 27, 2017 at 1:55 pm
Thank you so much!
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February 27, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Meanwhile European women are tanning themselves darker and darker. People are very confused!
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February 27, 2017 at 9:16 pm
exactly. It’s as if everybody wants to be the exact opposite of themselves! the world is a confusing place
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