Disgusting Skin Whitening Ad in Kidzania

This thread is a good reminder of what a sad, sad world we live in.

RuthM I agree with you (don't get me started on my mother in law lol), but as others have said it's so ingrained that it's barely even seen as an insult by adults saying it, just a common observation but then that mindset is passed to the kids. The problem is that bleaching the skin is so unhealthy, but women resort to that in the name of beauty just like my ancestors did by slapping lead paint on their faces, even though it gave many of them cancer. Anyway, I'm going round in circles, don't know what my point is other than I disagree with any advertising which tells children that something they are born with is wrong or ugly. That goes for all the cosmetic surgery ads in the UK (seriously, they're everywhere now!), tanning shops, skin whitening ads etc.

I'm interested in and comment on the subject because my future kids will inevitably have dark skin, and having already heard negative comments about my husband's skin colour (from his own mum!) it bothers me to think my kids might be judged "too dark" and openly told so. Without being outwardly offensive any parent that thinks and says this is just not very nice. If my husband's mum had a problem with his skin colour or our children's skin colour I would tell her to stop being so critical and to get lost. That said my dad always said I was fat. I have never been any higher than smack in the middle of average on the BMI scale. But my mother was an anorexic, sunlight addicted size 0. As much as I loved my father, he was just a bad parent and generally not very nice. If he had lived to see his grandchildren, I would not be worried about if he thought they were fat, and if he said anything he would just get a mouthful of insults back from me. I mean he was bald and only 5'8" so slightly short for a guy so there's a good place to start. My white South African cousin's son is mixed race. His dad was from the West Indies. My entire family do nothing but talk about how gorgeous he is, how he has lovely curly hair, and such nice skin. I myself am slightly envious that my kids will never have that great complexion (unless we go to a clinic or something!). He lives in South Africa and has not had any problems with his skin colouring. He goes to a mixed school and the only query he has every had was when two other children asked his mum "why are you so white and B is so dark?". Which my cousin explained was because she was white and his dad was black so he is brown. One child then said "So if my daddy was Mr F (the other child's father who was black) I would be brown too?" and then went running to his parents to ask why his daddy wasn't Mr F and if he could be brown. Whilst I understand there can be problems in Asia with darker skinned people, there can be problems in Europe if you are short (for men), if you are fat, if you have a big nose, if you have crooked teeth (especially in America), if you have freckles or curly hair which I was bullied for. Really though if kids decide you are an easy target, they will find something to bully you for. I wouldn't look in a mirror through most of school as I hated my freckles so much and thought I was ugly and my teeth stuck out (my father telling me I was fat, useless and stupid probably didn't help). My childhood was one of complete isolation, I was bullied all the way through school, not just once. I love it when people say "I was bullied once" that's not real bullying try dreading going to school every morning for ten years. Unfortunately once a child looks miserable it becomes all the more likely other children will pick on them. Between the ages of five and nine I went from a happy child (from photos) and a high achiever (I was put up a year as school, was reading books from the Senior School library in year 3, writing simple programs in year 4 and doing complex equations) to looking like I wanted to kill myself and dropping academically to the bottom set for nearly everything. I even failed the eleven plus (then retook it in isolation and got the highest grade in the school and one of the highest in the county). I was dragged from doctor to therapist and eventually dropped out of school at fifteen. I absolutely hated myself, had zero confidence and thought I was the ugliest person on the planet a freak or weirdo is what I was called. My therapist when I was eight told me to 'play marbles' in the school yard so other children might join in. What an idiot, the guy was off his marbles, all that happened was I was snickered at and then the marbles were stolen, thrown at me and smashed to bits. I might also add my father was in and out of hospital for serious mental illness (after one particular breakdown when I was seven he made the front page of the local rag 'Axe Man Goes Beserk' - they were croquet mallets but you know the press) and my mother became neurotic which combined with her chain smoking, bleached hair and endless tanning make her look like a crazed leather faced woman or as the kids at my senior school would say "your mum looks like a witch". She actually looks better now than she did fifteen years ago. Looking at photos of me now I was actually a really cute kid with a lovely smile and in fact a photo of me is still used in a school brochure at a school I went to some twenty-five years ago. Also I was selected for a series of cereal TV adverts from my drama club when I was six but as the bullying had started by then I was too shy and refused to do them. I frequently thought about going into my school and shooting every single person in it (ironically I was quite good at shooting and had access to guns but fortunately was not a sociopath). Later I realised I am actually quite attractive, even pretty and all these girls were just pathetic and stupid (I also have a very high IQ). That said I still hate having my photograph taken, rarely look in the mirror and there are some girls I went to school with that if I saw them now I still have so much hatred towards them I would become stressed and feel very angry. Frankly I am feeling angry now just thinking about these people, sometimes I wish I could go back in time and just sock them in the mouth. Funny thing is people normally call me calm. So you don't have to be dark skinned or short or ugly or anything to get bullied some people just are. If the bullying starts in the home then the damaged child will bring a weakness to school with them. Little girls especially are like a pack of hyenas and they smell blood and pounce straight on it. We only had two black girls in our year at school, one Nigerian girl who bullied me (only a little) for a few years until after a particularly bad day she pushed me over (she was much bigger than me) and I lost my temper and smashed her in the shins with a tennis racquet (she wasn't that bad but it was after a bad day). This was one of only three times when I reacted to my torture. And one American girl who I did not know well but she seemed very nice to everybody. They were were both very dark and neither of them were ever bullied. Me the pretty, cute, big bright blue eyed, brown haired, freckled, white kid was tortured on a daily basis. Children are a product of their environment and the environment in the early years are what will shape a child. So if you have a relative who is going to insult your child for any reason then remove your child from that relative.. period. <em>edited by RuthM on 06/06/2012</em>

It is a different thing than children hating their curly hair or freckles or baby fat. I hate to hear about any kids that think they are less than anyone else--for ANY reason, especially a physical reason. :( Thats what I wonder about though. Is it really a different feeling? Obviously it does not feel good to be told your skin is too dark or to be made to feel ugly. But would a child who was bullied for any (perceived) physical defect be feeling something completely different? For example fat children who are bullied - do they experience a different type of self esteem problem than dark children? What I do know is that from even as young as 4, we are very impressionable into our teens, and I was glad that some of the time, when I was bullied, my Dad would make me feel better. He didn't tell me I was beautiful, he told me the other kids were idiots and one day I would travel the world and they all be stuck judging each other in the same small town (he got that right! lol) My Mom would tell me to take my worries to Jesus. You can imagine what my prayers sounded like. "Please help me remember to smile at the idiots while I think about your future plans for me" :) We look to our parents during those times for esteem and help when it fails us. I hope I am that parent that has the right things to say. But as far as fairer skin being beautiful in a cultural thing, I have no idea about that. I think I would tell her that God made her perfect, and to maintain her gorgeous color she was given and her skin health, use sunblock, and just be happy. Pretty weak sounding I guess, but I think it is best to keep these things simple.

GM, wouldn't it just be great if we could keep them in a bubble forever !! I am almost sure now I know where it is coming from and I am also remembering comments her friend made when describing other kids, so I think that is where the topic has originated from. I don't think was in any malicious way at all! As someone else said, it's about teaching them our values and helping them understand that different cultures value different things, rightly or wrongly.

its part of the Arabic/Asian culture and you don't really have a right to speak up on it Is it knowledge worth imparting to children (or adults, even) - that there's nothing wrong with having different skin colour? You would think so, I absolutely agree, but as mentioned it is 'cultural thoughts' and if parents themselves (so many examples from other posters) believe this, who are we to interfere? It would be like someone of another culture telling me to piece my daughter's ear when she was a baby, circumcise my son and stop drinking alcohol.:\: A while ago I saw a family with a small girl (of about 5) wearing a hijab - I thought that was absolutely wrong on a small girl but it's a cultural thing and parents' choice the values they instal in their families. Same issue here. They believe light skin is right, so why do we have to interfere? In some cultures it is acceptable to murder a son or daughter deemed to have brought dishonour on the family, should we also stand aside and not interfere? Just because something is cultural doesn't mean that it should continue to be so, and this line of thought, that someone worth is determine by the colour of their skin is simply wrong. Children are so vulnerable, they are succeptible to their parents' beliefs these comments will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Some may outgrow it but many do not not. Pomegranate - The difference with making a young child wear hijab is that it doesn't destroy their pysche, where their self worth is tied to their skin colour. Its simply 'different' while one view actually attacks the core of a child's identify (one they can't change no matter how much whitening cream they use) and ultimately society in the long run. I absolutely agree with Sea of Love's comments above. Just b/c one doesn't have the same 'cultural' issues, doesnt mean they should speak to it. I think its quite a riduculous comment for one to suggest that people have 'no right to speak up about it'. As part of either culture, you should welcome any voice that empowers our children to value themselves more regardless of skin colour. It is wrong - its racism against our own, and that is disgusting. As I said earlier, I am quite fair by Arab/Indian standards and was always asked if I was mixed and it was like a 'status symbol' to have 'white' in you and yet, I was still told to scrub and not get dark as though that would destroy who I was. You should their faces now that I go back to Canada with a tan - its like why would you do that yourself?! I am sorry but this is unacceptable and to think my children will grow up with the same mindset is upseting. If people realise this is an issue, then people will speak out to it, and hopefully over time, change the way we think. <em>edited by xmasbaby on 06/06/2012</em>

its part of the Arabic/Asian culture and you don't really have a right to speak up on it Is it knowledge worth imparting to children (or adults, even) - that there's nothing wrong with having different skin colour? You would think so, I absolutely agree, but as mentioned it is 'cultural thoughts' and if parents themselves (so many examples from other posters) believe this, who are we to interfere? It would be like someone of another culture telling me to piece my daughter's ear when she was a baby, circumcise my son and stop drinking alcohol.:\: A while ago I saw a family with a small girl (of about 5) wearing a hijab - I thought that was absolutely wrong on a small girl but it's a cultural thing and parents' choice the values they instal in their families. Same issue here. They believe light skin is right, so why do we have to interfere? In some cultures it is acceptable to murder a son or daughter deemed to have brought dishonour on the family, should we also stand aside and not interfere? Just because something is cultural doesn't mean that it should continue to be so, and this line of thought, that someone worth is determine by the colour of their skin is simply wrong. Children are so vulnerable, they are succeptible to their parents' beliefs these comments will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Some may outgrow it but many do not not.

I had it good? Hmmm glad you can know my life so well from a computer screen. Just because my parents helped me with my image doesn't mean other people were so kind... in my opinion we all have to take some personal responsibility, yes it takes experience and strength to keep a good mindset when people around you tel lyou you're nothing or you need X or Y to be better... but at the end of the day you become what you let people make you. Either you go along with it or you say "I don't want to do/be that" and make a choice. Sometimes people have painful childhoods til they work this out and maybe it takes some outside help but just because someone seems to have a positive self image doesn't mean they 'had it good'. Sometimes they had to MAKE it good. I regularly had other people tease me for being nerdy/brainy/bookworm/teacher's pet/good too shoes and it goes on... I CHOSE for myself that those things weren't important, my parents told me that to do well in school gives you more opportunities but they didn't force me to do well either, they praised me when I did but always told me that my choices in school had consequences... FYI I had far more self images issues later in my teens/early 20's than I did in school, honestly I would worry far more about a daughter in late high school than primary because it is harder to change her thoughts then... ETA: I was always being compared to my older, prettier (in their opinion) sister by near relatives like cousins and other people so I actually do know how it feels. I had dark hair and darker looks and she was blond and fair. My mum told me the story of Snow White and Rose Red- I identified with it because they were different to each other but still pretty in their own way. <em>edited by SkyKitty on 06/06/2012</em>

It's all a cultural thing. Ok, you don't agree with it (and I don't as well) but its part of the Arabic/Asian culture and you don't really have a right to speak up on it - it's no different to disagreeing with anything else they see as 'right'! I'm interested in and comment on the subject because my future kids will inevitably have dark skin, and having already heard negative comments about my husband's skin colour (from his own mum!) it bothers me to think my kids might be judged "too dark" and openly told so. I agree pale kids sometimes get made fun of in school, but in my experience it's been from peers, not from parents and adult relatives making mean remarks...peer teasing and bullying is different IMO to adults being nasty to kids

We had the same thing with curly vs straight hair when I was in school. My hair is poker straight and I hated that all the other girls had nice wavy or curly hair, fast forward 15 years and now everyone's jealoud that I don't spend dollars and hours making my hair straight! Did that make you feel a "lesser person" back then? That you won't do as well in life as the others? I was exactly the same...except I had curly hair and everyone else had trendy straight hair. Was really awful.....and add in to that freckles and facial hair...mmmmmmm!

its part of the Arabic/Asian culture and you don't really have a right to speak up on it Is it knowledge worth imparting to children (or adults, even) - that there's nothing wrong with having different skin colour? why do we have to interfere? It's more of creating awareness. "It's more of creating awareness".....in what [b'>you believe[/b'> is wrong???? I wouldn't go there!!!!

No I felt I did well anyway because my parents praised me for how well I was doing in school and taught me to make effort in things other than my looks. I just felt I had cr@p hair, not that I was a cr@p person... lol then I became a teenager and discovered that you can change your hair with dye or crimping, but you couldn't change your grades.... so I was glad I put the time into that and not my looks

its part of the Arabic/Asian culture and you don't really have a right to speak up on it Is it knowledge worth imparting to children (or adults, even) - that there's nothing wrong with having different skin colour? You would think so, I absolutely agree, but as mentioned it is 'cultural thoughts' and if parents themselves (so many examples from other posters) believe this, who are we to interfere? It would be like someone of another culture telling me to piece my daughter's ear when she was a baby, circumcise my son and stop drinking alcohol.:\: A while ago I saw a family with a small girl (of about 5) wearing a hijab - I thought that was absolutely wrong on a small girl but it's a cultural thing and parents' choice the values they instal in their families. Same issue here. They believe light skin is right, so why do we have to interfere?

We had the same thing with curly vs straight hair when I was in school. My hair is poker straight and I hated that all the other girls had nice wavy or curly hair, fast forward 15 years and now everyone's jealoud that I don't spend dollars and hours making my hair straight! As another poster said, we always want what we don't have, and any of those kids are probably thinking more about that the other girl has a better Barbie or that boy has newer PS3 games... not really about their skin! If it was in a place aimed at teenagers I'd be more worried but these days there are so many conflicting messages in the media anyway. I don't think you can say it's "wrong" because it may be for you but not for others... just have to try teach your own kids how you want them to think of themselves and give them the tools to see through all the media cr@p.

LOL seaoflove, I can't believe your dad said that ! GM, I hope we can sort it out with her, I don't really have clue where to start though. I guess a similar situation is those who have carrot red hair and white skin. All my cousins were redheads with lilywhite skin and freckles and I know they got a lot of teasing about it when growing up, my cousin hated the idea her kids were going to have red hair.

I think unless you're of Asian/African decent, its hard for one to appreciate the struggle that children of colour encounter. Its something you grow up with and commented on by family members from the time you are born. We are mixed and my own family called on the day my children were born and the first question is 'is she fair?' - not is she healthy, are you okay - its is she/he fair. These are smart people but its so engrained in them that they don't even realise how stupid it is. Its not about the grass being greener, its about the way these races perceive beauty and the white/more European you look/finer features the 'prettier' you are seen in the eyes of your own race and you can only imagine what that does to one's confidence. Its the reason why most coloured artists/models/bollywood/hollywood stars of ethnic orgin are photoshopped to be several shades lighter when on the cover of magazines. In recent years, there has been greater awareness - several articles recently on Beyonce's photoshopping etc - and the reality is ads such as Dove's aimed at kids, reinforce what they are already taught at home. I recall when I moved here, both Indian and Arab women telling me the best hammams to go to so that I could SCRUB the TAN off. "Dark" is considered "ugly and it truly does affect the way children feel about themselves which is not the same as straightening one's hair, or tanning. Its engrained into their beings and until that overriding feeling ends, there will always be a market for ads such a Dove's. Well said!

I am Asian and I was born with very, very fair skin. It became a constant topic of conversation within my family and my sister and cousins (who were darker) used to endure jokes about their lesser complexions. It seemed to be something ingrained in our culture, fair skin meant you never had to work a day in your life as opposed to women who had to work in the paddy fields. That being said, for my family at least it was not taken seriously, more of a joke than anything else. No one was ever told that they had a lesser chance of succeeding in life and marriage because of their skin tone, and I certainly did not receive any favoritism on account of my skin. Though years later, after living in Australia and Dubai and developing a dark tan, my dad welcomed me in the airport by exclaiming 'you're so dark, you look like the maid!'. It's all down to culture, and it's up to the younger generations to change that archaic way of thinking.

It's all a cultural thing. Ok, you don't agree with it (and I don't as well) but its part of the Arabic/Asian culture and you don't really have a right to speak up on it - it's no different to disagreeing with anything else they see as 'right'!

GM she is 9. ETA, exactly, but I kind of have a inkling now it might be linked to discussions between school friends. <em>edited by mum2girls on 06/06/2012</em>

It is a different thing than children hating their curly hair or freckles or baby fat. I hate to hear about any kids that think they are less than anyone else--for ANY reason, especially a physical reason. :( Thats what I wonder about though. Is it really a different feeling? Obviously it does not feel good to be told your skin is too dark or to be made to feel ugly. But would a child who was bullied for any (perceived) physical defect be feeling something completely different? For example fat children who are bullied - do they experience a different type of self esteem problem than dark children?

I think unless you're of Asian/African decent, its hard for one to appreciate the struggle that children of colour encounter. Its something you grow up with and commented on by family members from the time you are born. We are mixed and my own family called on the day my children were born and the first question is 'is she fair?' - not is she healthy, are you okay - its is she/he fair. These are smart people but its so engrained in them that they don't even realise how stupid it is. Its not about the grass being greener, its about the way these races perceive beauty and the white/more European you look/finer features the 'prettier' you are seen in the eyes of your own race and you can only imagine what that does to one's confidence. Its the reason why most coloured artists/models/bollywood/hollywood stars of ethnic orgin are photoshopped to be several shades lighter when on the cover of magazines. In recent years, there has been greater awareness - several articles recently on Beyonce's photoshopping etc - and the reality is ads such as Dove's aimed at kids, reinforce what they are already taught at home. I recall when I moved here, both Indian and Arab women telling me the best hammams to go to so that I could SCRUB the TAN off. "Dark" is considered "ugly and it truly does affect the way children feel about themselves which is not the same as straightening one's hair, or tanning. Its engrained into their beings and until that overriding feeling ends, there will always be a market for ads such a Dove's. You really hit the nail on the head! It mystified me when I worked a cosmetic counter in the US, and an Asian woman requested a foundation powder in shade 0. I said, no way that's porcelain, let me match you....she started to get irked. My manager pulled me aside, smiling, and explained it to me (she was Korean and said her mother taught her it was marks of being of a lower social class, the darker your skin--and some carry on the tradition even though American Asians can be more lax). I was embarrassed to be so culturally dense. It is a different thing than children hating their curly hair or freckles or baby fat. I hate to hear about any kids that think they are less than anyone else--for ANY reason, especially a physical reason. :(

We are a mixed couple and one of my kids looks like me, fair, blue eyes, freckles and mousy blonde hair. The other looks like my DH, she is tanned skin, brown eyes and dark straight hair. My dark eyed DD is now beginning to complain that she wishes she had her sisters skin color, and regularly holding her arm up against mine or her sister comparing the skin color. A few weeks ago she told me she hates the color of her skin. DH and I absolutely could not figure out where it is coming from, we never mention it, and both are plastered in factor 50 whenever we go to the pool or beach. It is really troubling me that she is so aware of it and viewing it in such a negative way now. Ironically her best friend is a lovely little Indian girl, so based on the comments below it's now got me thinking that maybe it's a topic of discussion between them at school. So yeah, have to say, I would not want her seeing advertisements about bleaching her skin color, and I agree a place like Kidzania is not appropriate for that kind of advertising.

I think unless you're of Asian/African decent, its hard for one to appreciate the struggle that children of colour encounter. Its something you grow up with and commented on by family members from the time you are born. We are mixed and my own family called on the day my children were born and the first question is 'is she fair?' - not is she healthy, are you okay - its is she/he fair. These are smart people but its so engrained in them that they don't even realise how stupid it is. Its not about the grass being greener, its about the way these races perceive beauty and the white/more European you look/finer features the 'prettier' you are seen in the eyes of your own race and you can only imagine what that does to one's confidence. Its the reason why most coloured artists/models/bollywood/hollywood stars of ethnic orgin are photoshopped to be several shades lighter when on the cover of magazines. In recent years, there has been greater awareness - several articles recently on Beyonce's photoshopping etc - and the reality is ads such as Dove's aimed at kids, reinforce what they are already taught at home. I recall when I moved here, both Indian and Arab women telling me the best hammams to go to so that I could SCRUB the TAN off. "Dark" is considered "ugly and it truly does affect the way children feel about themselves which is not the same as straightening one's hair, or tanning. Its engrained into their beings and until that overriding feeling ends, there will always be a market for ads such a Dove's.

Also, there are quite a few indian advertisements that show how being fair (after using these creams) will get you your dream job, award, husband, etc. edited by terrible_twos on 06/06/2012 Don't all advertisements for almost every product show the person more happy/successful/attractive after buying/using the product?

Just google "mercury in skin whitening creams" and you'll get loads of websites about the harmful effects of these creams. Also, there are quite a few indian advertisements that show how being fair (after using these creams) will get you your dream job, award, husband, etc. Too much discrimination because of skin color and sadly this is within the Indian community. <em>edited by terrible_twos on 06/06/2012</em>

I must admit I find it intriguing how many naturally dark skinned parents make their kids wear sun suits when the melanin in their skin is already providing adequate protection. Adequate protection is perhaps a little much. Very dark black skin will provide a protection factor or approx SPF 13. This would not really be considered 'adequate'. An Indian friend of mine who has been in the UK since he was 13 went to the Maldives on holiday and lay in the sun with his wife (a frequent sunbather) assuming his dark skin would protect him. He was surprised when he ended up in hospital with severe sunburn for the next three days and his European wife was fine. Whatever your skin tone, it is always safer, to cover up.

The issue of fair skin being somehow better is deeply ingrained in some nationalities and Dove is merely pandering to the market that produces. It's a commercial organisation at the end of the day. It's up to the nations involved to overcome this issue. I must admit I find it intriguing how many naturally dark skinned parents make their kids wear sun suits when the melanin in their skin is already providing adequate protection. But what about people with freckles or patches of pigmentation (usually due to sun & hormones)? We were always told freckles were ugly and there are whitening products available to remove those too. BTW, my kids both have much darker complexions than me (which I'm pleased about) as their dad is arabic. I've had to have sun spots and pre-cancerous growths removed too. <em>edited by A Rancher on 06/06/2012</em>

Lighter skin is a class issue. I am not convinced lighter and darker skinned Asians are a different race. But lighter skinned Asians are picked by the wealthy as more suitable spouses therefore creating a lighter skinned upper class. But this is nothing new. In Europe pale skin was fashionable amongst the affluent. As in Asia it showed those who had not been working in the sun. In fact they would lighten their skin with lead based products and arsenic. It was only in the 1920s when it was found rickets was caused by a vitamin D deficiency that this began to change. Coco Chanel was photographed with a tan (accidental) and suddenly tanning became fashionable. As years passed people started taking beach holidays and holidays abroad, this is when bikini tans became a symbol of status and sophistication because only the upper classes could afford such luxuries. It is in fact probably only the eradication of a strict class system in recent years that tanning has become common amongst all people regardless of background in the UK and many parts of Europe. Therefore if there is a problem in Asia with dark skinned people regarded as unattractive or lower caste, it is in fact a fundamental problem at the core of the class system that needs to be addressed not whether or not someone has porcelain skin or wants a nice deep tan. With regard to Asians thinking their paler daughter is more beautiful of course this happens in Europe. My cousin who has dark Mediterranean type skin is always commented on how beautiful she is whilst nothing is said about her sister. Her brother has the same complexion as her and his wife even said she hopes their son inherits his dads colouring not her own. Whilst they may not go to the extent of saying their child is ugly that is surely just bad parents. Often a paler sibling (or friend for that matter) will fake tan or worse still go on tanning beds. There is a massive problem in the UK with overuse of tanning beds and skin cancer amongst the young is becoming more and more of an issue. In fact along with the size 0 debate with models, many celebrities are embracing the alabaster look to try and encourage healthier skin amongst young people. So the Japanese (and other parts of Asia) fashion of covering up in the sun may be a good thing after all. Frankly there should be a ban on junk foods, diet foods, tanning products, whitening products and any other self image products in children's areas and on television (fortunately the plastic surgeons haven't got to them yet!). I would not single out whitening products as the sole bad guy for this. Children should be taught to embrace their own image, regardless of shape, size and complexion. That said I personally hope my children inherit my yellowish skin tone and not my husbands pale white pinkish colour!

[ I think she meant it as a hypothetical question, to be thought about. Yup. My point was that different cultures and individuals do many weird and wonderful things to our bodies in the name of beauty. But not everything that we believe is beautiful is due to wanting to looking like a different race whom is perceived as being more superior or having a better/more desireable life. With everything we alter about our bodies for so many different reasons - can altering skin colour only ever mean its a racial superiority/inferiority issue, and only ever in the case of someone darker wanting to be lighter? I don't know the answer. Just pondering it aloud :)

I am a bit surprised /shocked really at people who think this is akin to curling your hair or some other kind of visual enhancement. Suggest you google for " skin bleach and whitening pan african studies". There is an article there - link too long, sorry.