http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/618/591611 BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/618/591612 WHY DO THE SKIN BLEACHING
Thanks for these links Tiica. However this topic on skin bleaching appears to be a rhetorical one, and one which I'm not sure will ever cease to resurface for as long as we strive to aspire to the global-media call on what's beautiful etc... Skin bleaching is done by all races that are not seen to be caucasians - Japanese, Indians, all countries in Africa. All in the name of beauty: different strokes, for different folks.
There’s a large segment of our population who are convinced that being lighter in complexion is to their advantage, socially, in terms of their relationships and economically, in terms of getting aheadsaid some women don’t know why they are doing it. Some girls feel that with a lighter complexion, their prospects in life would improve. Some are bleaching their faces and when they are asked why, they have no answer. “I have been told that men are responsible for the girls bleaching their faces, as all men only want ‘browning’ (light skinned women) and do not like black girls. This is rather nonsense of course. Some people even claim that the girls are bleaching now because of slavery and that the white people are to be blamed. Again, what utter nonsense.
Media advertising worldwide greatly enhance the stereotypes that light skinned people are advantaged socially and romantically. In Jamaica, advertisements like these are not broadcast, printed or aired often, but the few depict light skinned women saying for example that “Vanishing Cream fades dark spots and freckles, lightens and brightens skin to a smooth radiant glow. This is soooo true - have you seen how smooth looking and lovely the ladies in Uganda look?
An article on the web site http://www.africana.com said: “One Kenyan TV ad features a young woman staring lovingly at her boyfriend in a college cafeteria. Another pretty woman with slightly lighter skin walks by, upon which the man jokingly asks the girlfriend how he can tell the woman that she is the “most beautiful girl I have ever seen"
Devastated, the young woman responds to a voiceover advising her to use “Fair and Lovely" a skin cream promising “special fairness vitamins" and guaranteed to lighten her complexion in just six weeks. The young woman uses the cream and, sure enough, keeps her man.
However, this psychology for social acceptance, more opportunities, and improved self-image, is already epidemic. Indeed I've known persons extending the use of bleaching agents on their babies! Hmmm - now there's a thought for the drain on health resources to treat skin related cancers or correcting the damage done to the skin in months to follow...
"Worrying is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."