White skin

[wix]

A Taiwanese friend living in a foreign country* sent me the following in an e-mail.

I hope I won't be a black girl after this trip because I am dark in [COUNTRY] now. In the winter I had very white skin and looked great. But now I have "too healthy" skin. [COUNTRY] people like brown skin but I don't.

I wonder where the origin of the obsession with white skin lies. Is it entirely a result of racial discrimation by Europeans (stemming back to the early days of colonisation and continuing until today) or does it also have some roots in Chinese culture and Chinese ideas about beauty?

I suspect it is a combination of both factors, but if anybody can offer some more insights on this subject I would be interested to hear them.

* a country in Europe, but I don't think the exact country is relevant to this discussion.

[Guest sjj17]

Well, a couple o hundred years ago all of the European countries (rich) people were obsessed with looking as white as possible. Dark skin was related to people who had to work outside and work in the field so it was seen as a sign of being poor. Is it related to that?

SJ

[roddy]

I would think so - paler skin was valued when it meant you spent all your time indoors or under a parasol - perhaps similar to the habit of growing the nail of your little finger.

In western culture in now means you spend too much time in front of the TV and can't afford holidays on the beach . . .

[holyman]

well in china traditionally paler skin means one came from a wealthy family while darker skin means one had toiled and worked very hard to earn a living. in chinese tales and novels girls who had whiter skin are considered beautiful.

[Guest panda]

* a country in Europe, but I don't think the exact country is relevant to this discussion.

Is that Germany?

[Tsunku]

I don't think its about trying to look "white" as in European as much as it is, as others said, not looking like a peasant.

I'm a pretty pale white girl, and according to my Chinese boyfriend, I could stand a little time in the sun, so apparently they do draw the line somewhere, hehe.

[TSkillet]

Apparently no one wants to look like a farmer.

[ChouDoufu]

I think it is probably more of a Chinese beauty ideal due to the farmer/wealthy skin phenomenon, and not necessarily European influence. Other cuontries like India also seem to have a preference for lighter skin in women.

[skylee]

There is this old Chinese saying "一白遮三丑", meaning being white can cover/compensate for three times of ugliness. That's why.

[holyman]

Other cuontries like India also seem to have a preference for lighter skin in women.

heh heh, thats bcos the whiter indians are aryans descendants and are usually the top in the caste system. the darker indians are the indian natives.

[willsi2]

At the end of the day were all gods children and we shouldent be judged on our skin colour or looks..!! ;)

[Quest]

I think it is probably more of a Chinese beauty ideal due to the farmer/wealthy skin phenomenon, and not necessarily European influence.

right, people do not try to look european in china, even hair-dying is not a way to look "white", it is purely a fashion trend. the appreciation of lighter skin has been part of the chinese culture long before contacts with europeans.

[geek_frappa]

yes. it has been part of the culture for thousands of years; it may eventually fade away like foot-binding did...

also, some people have the following impression of darker skinned children: they're hungry, diseased and in need of charity all the time.

example: http://www.worldvision.org.hk/child_frame.html

so people want to look rich, powerful. human nature is fascinating.

[skylee]

No way of this value fading. Chinese women want to have paler and paler skin.

[Tsunku]

I dunno, it could fade. In Japan, although whiter skin is still considered most attractive, you'll find tanned skin is getting more and more popular, especially with younger girls. If the theory about the preference for whiter skin being linked to associating tanned skin with poverty is true, then China should also stop preferring white skin when white skin is no longer associated with wealth and leisure.

[Guest Anonymous]

I dunno, it could fade. In Japan, although whiter skin is still considered most attractive, you'll find tanned skin is getting more and more popular, especially with younger girls. If the theory about the preference for whiter skin being linked to associating tanned skin with poverty is true, then China should also stop preferring white skin when white skin is no longer associated with wealth and leisure.

Pale skin may not be associated with wealth and high-social class in U.S., Europe and Japan, that doesn't mean it's that way throughout the whole world. Although in recent decades, the number of wealthy Chinese has rised tremendously, there are still many poor people in the rural area. Also in major Chinese cities, there are many migrant workers from these poor rural areas and you can usually spot them pretty easily, mostly because they tend to be more tanned. Until the average Chinese population becomes wealthy, and not just the minority, pale skin would still be valued. However, I doubt this would happen anytime soon because of the huge population.

[Tsunku]

I don't disagree with you, there are going to be farmers in China for a long time to come. I only mean that the preference for white skin isn't necesarrily fixed, and it's not completely inconceivable that it could change if economic conditions change as well.

[yangguang]

Hello.

Quote:

I hope I won't be a black girl after this trip because I am dark in [COUNTRY] now. In the winter I had very white skin and looked great. But now I have "too healthy" skin. [COUNTRY] people like brown skin but I don't.

Although I realize that this thread may be a little old, I am new to this forum, therefore I am just now able to read it. I find this subject to be somewhat interesting. Wix, I am most interested in YOUR response to the email that your friend sent. I noticed that how you reacted was never mentioned. By any chance, were you able to politely inform her that her comments were a bit....sour? Or did you just ignore it? I'm just curious...

[Marco]

I it is funny although I am a (Caucasian) guy the Chinese keep telling me that my skin is so nice white, even Thai and Japanese people keep telling it me, political incorrect of course in Europe, as soon as some one tries to sell a whitening cream he can appear in front of the judge because of racism or something like that, I must say I like my white skin, try to keep it that way, looks good with my blue eyes lol.

But weather or not some one has a darker skin it is the heart that counts, beautiful or not, if act like a bitch, you’re ugly as hell

[Ian_Lee]

Why do most people in Asia think girls with translucent skin are prettier?

The reasons are very simple.

Yellow-skin color girls don't look nice if their skin becomes tanned.

Do you ever see any pretty Asian tanned-skinned girl?

So far I only know one -- Mrs. Timothy Fok (before she got married).

On the other hand, white girls don't look pretty if their skins look too translucent. That is why they need to get their skin tanned.