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Fake v Fair
**helen**
Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
What do we think about fake tan people?
Hannah has definitely decided...
http://www.thesite.org/community/reallife/rants/fakevsfair
Whatcha think?
Hannah has definitely decided...
http://www.thesite.org/community/reallife/rants/fakevsfair
Whatcha think?
0
Comments
I can't see that bit? *is probably going blind*
It's like the 4th paragraph down, the one that begins with 'when I question people about why they fake tan...'
Hae you ever been or lived within a community of non white people who want to ligthen thier skin? Thought about the social power that has caused them to wan tto? Considered the health and self-esttem issue that go alongside this> Well I have. And on the bassi of my experience as intelligence I find it disgusting an dlazy journalism that a reference to MJ lightening his skin (for medical or other reasons) to be flippant and not weel thought through. THAT MAKES ME MAD.
Ever met a girl who's sat in bleach baths for hours/days/weeks, recieved taunts from her own and external communities for the depth of brown in her skin? Contrast that with the acceptability of hues of white and where the power in this society lies( in any hue of white) and you mihg ttouch upon the distaste I feel.
idealistically I'd like ot give her a lecture (in the educational rather than reprimanding sense) on what utter utter bollox the inclusion of MJ lightening his skin, within this article is.
That's it. I'm out.
Breathe, lovely.
She says its not the same as wearing makeup. Of course it fucking is.
I get the point you're making Katralla but I didn't read the same political argument in the article that you obviously have done. If I thought for one moment that it was drawing comparisons with the deeper cultural implications of having a particular skin colour I would agree with you wholeheartedly. However, the idea that an individual can be made to feel ashamed of their natural skin (no matter what shade that may be) isn't restricted to one particular race. And it's wrong in every instance.
I think there tend to be two main taboos when talking to people about their physical features. The first is obviously that you don't want to appear prejudiced in any way. But the second is the assumption that someone mustn't be happy with that particular feature. I think even despite the tanning culture, being pale is still not really seen as a negative thing, or there would be a taboo about talking about it. It's for the same reason that a tall person is massively more likely to have their height mentioned to them than a short person. A thin person is more likely to receive jokes about their weight than a fat person.
As for the skin whitening comment, I think it's difficult to draw a comparison in the racially, historically and socially-charged context of the UK or India. But these products are pretty widespread in Vietnam (and I assume other nearby countries). And they're not some dangerous procedure with dodgy chemicals (though I'm sure that's available too), they're just a label on your normal shower gel or moisturiser saying that it's skin whitening. Whether it works or not, I don't know, but the key point is that they obviously sell. And while they're might be a hint of social status in this (i.e. white skin = comfortable middle-class person, dark skin = farmer), I don't think it's any stronger than the equivalent in the UK of associating tanned skin with exotic holidays and lots of free time.
The simple truth is that (almost exclusively) women buy these things because they think it makes them look better. And it's easy to come up with vast social theories about why this might be, but I think the simple answer is because that it what is presented to them as beautiful by the industry. It is in their interest to make people feel inadequate, and in countries where most people have light skin, telling them they need darker skin is how you do this. In countries where people have darker skin, trying to make it lighter becomes the goal. And the social associations that go along with this are merely a product of aspirational marketing. Associating pale skin in Asia or tanned skin in Northern Europe with a comfortable middle-class lifestyle is no different from associating an expensive car with a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. All of it is about exploiting people's insecurities about social status (amongst other things) in order to sell them a product to "fix" them.
I think the wider racial questions are something of a red herring in this respect, and I don't think that the majority of people who buy skin whitening cream worldwide are doing so in an effort to look white, in the same way that black people used to try to make their hair the same as white people's (based purely on watching Malcolm X, btw
Answer - absolutely nothing. Shockingly unkind posts from people I admire so much. Clearly alcohol had a part to play here, but it's more than that because I don't see any attempt to self-edit at all.
If you believe you know better than someone else on a topic, then prove it by posting an informed response in reply, not by assuming that they are an inferior person and that taking a shallow swipe at them is a productive way to to encourage a community of young people to open their minds to alternative ideas.
Criticism of a journalist's work - absolutely fine
Unkind, personal, criticism of a young woman who is trying to find her place in the world - not on TheSite.org thankyouverymuch.
Yay for this post.
It gives them confidence because they think they look nicer. Same as nice, well fitting clothes or a hairstyle makes you confident. The article IS that bad because it's pointless (because fake tan is makeup. It's nothing special. I doubt anyone would write an article on the pros and cons of mascara.) as well as offensive for throwing in the MJ thing. Whether the author meant that as a he wasn't happy the way he looked thing, or as a going from being black to being white is the same as wearing fake tan thing isn't the point, it's still offensive.
But who cares? PEOPLE WEAR FAKE TAN BECAUSE THEY THINK IT MAKES THEM LOOK BETTER. Whether it's a little or a lot.
People write articles on many things. It's not offensive, not really. You've made your point, just let it go.
Just because she thinks something different - doesn't mean she is stupid or whatever and she doesn't really deserve some of the mean comments. Strong opinions and also harsh criticism of her work should be acceptable, but not just plain bitchyness targeted at her. She may have meant the Michael Jackson thing in a different way, even if it wasn't necessarily appropriate, I doubt she meant it to be offensive.
To be honest this is what puts me off writing rants, or discussing things at depth in P&D. I'm well aware that I don't know everything, and there will always be someone that knows more about something than me.... but I'm worried that as soon as I say something that is just a little bit wrong, or something that can be interpreted in the wrong way people will jump on me personally for it. And this is kind of what has happened here.....
Not sure if thats a good thing or not, but as long as youre prepared to listen to the other side, and keep an open mind to having your opinions changed and admitting to it, then i dont see the problem