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Is anyone lightening for social reasons?

post #1 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 

I myself am lightening for a few different reasons. One of them being, quite frankly, to increase my standing in society. I feel it will be of benefit to my professional and personal life i.e. employment and dating. It is not the main reason I am lightening, but it definitely adds a huge perk. Cutting through the BS that is political correctness, I think we can all agree that lighter skin means a better standing with society. This is the sad truth, but nonetheless the truth. Lighter skinned people are given preference in many different realms of society, from dating, to prison terms, to employment, etc.: 

 

 

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The study, which sampled over 12,000 black women imprisoned in North Carolina between 1995 and 2009, showed that light-skinned women were sentenced to 12 percent less time behind bars than their darker-skinned counterparts. The results also showed that having light skin reduces the actual time served by 11 percent.

 

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A 2006 University of Georgia study showed that employers prefer light-skinned black men to dark-skinned men, regardless of their qualifications. We found that a light-skinned black male can have only a Bachelor’s degree and typical work experience and still be preferred over a dark-skinned black male with an MBA and past managerial positions,” said Matthew S. Harrison in 2006, then a doctoral student in applied industrial organizational psychology at Georgia.

 

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In Oct. 2007, a Detroit party promoter caused an uproar when he promoted a party giving free admission to light-skinned women only. Ulysses Barnes — or “DJ Lish” — promoted a party for “Light Skinned Women & All Libras” but promptly cancelled it after women and activist groups protested the party’s premise.

 

Source: http://newsone.com/nation/tjstarr/light-skin-vs-dark-skin/

 

Is this fair? Of course not. But it is what it is. Moreover, lighter skinned individuals are seen as in a better light than darker skinned individual. This has become more of an issue of colorism than racism: 

 

 

Quote:
Voters’ preferences for the lighter black held regardless of the racial predispositions of the subject. Respondents also rated the light-skinned black candidate as being more intelligent, more experienced, and more trustworthy than his dark-skinned opponent. Thus, black candidates were disadvantaged by race, but the support eroded even further when the candidate’s complexion was dark.

Source: http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/as-racism-wanes-colorism-persists/

 

Many mothers and grandmothers secretly (or openly) wish for that baby with green eyes, blond hair, and lighter skin. This is what is generally seen, and not the other way around. And this is not to say that everyone has these thoughts. Not at all. And to say IDGAF about what people say, is not a complete truth, for how society sees us affects our perception of ourselves. These conclusions are the result of the work of social scientists and will, as any other conclusion of social science, be generalization with many exceptions.

 

So I'm curious if there is anyone else out there whom feels the same as I do?

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post #2 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:42pm

Very good research...intra-racism is much worst...and I think lack of self-esteem drives a lot of it

 

I lighten because I'm vainbiggrin.gif -

 


 

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post #3 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by InnerLight View Post

Very good research...intra-racism is much worst...
 



 

 

I completely agree. It's bad enough that this colorism stems from "mainstream" society, only to be magnified by perpetrators within the community.

 

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post #4 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:47pm
Im lightening for cosmetic purposes. I want to match my hands with the rest of my body. I used to think it was because of social reasons. But honestly I don't think i can get any higher up than I already am.
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post #5 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:50pm
Also i wonder what shade did they stop at when considering someone as light skinned and someone as dark skin. Cause we all have our own idea of what light skin and whats dark skinned. And what about the medium skin tone people?
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post #6 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Africanprincess View Post

Also i wonder what shade did they stop at when considering someone as light skinned and someone as dark skin. Cause we all have our own idea of what light skin and whats dark skinned. And what about the medium skin tone people?


It's the brown paper bag test, and what side you end up

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post #7 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mpockatu View Post

 

I completely agree. It's bad enough that this colorism stems from "mainstream" society, only to be magnified by perpetrators within the community.

 



It's a message pushed out from the media, who are also defining the standards of beauty..and what is accepted as beauty...

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post #8 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Africanprincess View Post

Im lightening for cosmetic purposes. I want to match my hands with the rest of my body. I used to think it was because of social reasons. But honestly I don't think i can get any higher up than I already am.


I believe it. We all lighten for different reasons. My main reason is also cosmetic. I am looking to brighten and smoothen my skin, as in it's natural untreated state it is rather dull. However, upon embarking on this lightening journey, I soon learned that there were social benefits of lightening. And to deny that the idea of said benefits didn't put a grin on my face would be hypocritical of myself. I decided to bring this up to the light to see if anyone else shared these feelings with me.

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post #9 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Africanprincess View Post

Also i wonder what shade did they stop at when considering someone as light skinned and someone as dark skin. Cause we all have our own idea of what light skin and whats dark skinned. And what about the medium skin tone people?


I think it's all relative. Within my ethnic group I am in the middle. The darker skinned Latinos see me as being on the lighter side while the lighter skinned Latinos see me on the darker side LOL. 

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post #10 of 147
2/6/12 at 3:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by InnerLight View Post

Very good research...intra-racism is much worst...and I think lack of self-esteem drives a lot of it

 

I lighten because I'm vainbiggrin.gif -

 


 



I won't lie, I'm a bit vain myself ( as are many gay man biggrin.gif )

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post #11 of 147
2/6/12 at 4:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mpockatu View Post



I won't lie, I'm a bit vain myself ( as are many gay man biggrin.gif )

fit gay men are hot...lol! They know how to make themselves look the best...

 

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post #12 of 147
2/6/12 at 4:15pm

I lighten and i am proud of it i like looking good,i always think people that say you should'nt are jealous you already look better than they do and are against it for that reason,i am vain and there is nothing wrong with wanting to look good.icon_cheers.gif

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post #13 of 147
2/6/12 at 5:09pm
Thread Starter 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by archangel View Post

I lighten and i am proud of it i like looking good,i always think people that say you should'nt are jealous you already look better than they do and are against it for that reason,i am vain and there is nothing wrong with wanting to look good.icon_cheers.gif



 

I'm with you 200% wootrock.gif

We only have one short life to live!! Lets make the best of it  ;-)

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post #14 of 147
2/6/12 at 5:16pm

YIPEE KI YEH is'nt it great the fact that we all have a choice no one can take that away from us i love it its goooooooood we can do our wiggle as we walk down the street.Throw our heads back and strike a pose.sunshine.gif

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post #15 of 147
2/6/12 at 5:40pm

Well i first i started out to improve some simple imperfections and rid my eczema,I honestly never had a problem with my skin color,i  always thought/and was told  i was beautifull even with eczema filled neck and face .B4 i wouldnt think twice about trying to lighten.I have been to the derm plenty of times ,left with scripts for my eczema and it would still come back.I later discovered SCT i caught the lightening bug,the serious lightening bug..My first reggie  that last for 8 months was one of the best things that happen to my skin.I have been eczema free and even and i love it. Now i am lighter and i love the way it looks on me.In addtion to that i am more knowledgable about skin  care in general.I have now embarked on a new journey"DIY" and i am interested to see how light i will get,its more of a hobby for me then a priority.

SUPERGIRLtongue.gif
Light skin and lovin it!

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SUPERGIRLtongue.gif
Light skin and lovin it!

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post #16 of 147
2/6/12 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SUPERGIRL View Post

Well i first i started out to improve some simple imperfections and rid my eczema,I honestly never had a problem with my skin color,i  always thought/and was told  i was beautifull even with eczema filled neck and face .B4 i wouldnt think twice about trying to lighten.I have been to the derm plenty of times ,left with scripts for my eczema and it would still come back.I later discovered SCT i caught the lightening bug,the serious lightening bug..My first reggie  that last for 8 months was one of the best things that happen to my skin.I have been eczema free and even and i love it. Now i am lighter and i love the way it looks on me.In addtion to that i am more knowledgable about skin  care in general.I have now embarked on a new journey"DIY" and i am interested to see how light i will get,its more of a hobby for me then a priority.



wtz ur regime . n wt helped u with the eczema : )

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post #17 of 147
2/6/12 at 7:13pm

HQ/RA CLEARED  MY  ECZEMA,  FINISHED MT  CHALLENGE LAST WEEK, DIY AS OF NOW;

WATS UR REGGIE HUN?

SUPERGIRLtongue.gif
Light skin and lovin it!

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SUPERGIRLtongue.gif
Light skin and lovin it!

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post #18 of 147
2/6/12 at 7:14pm



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Africanprincess View Post

honestly I don't think i can get any higher up than I already am.


 

You go girl !!! Power to u....

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post #19 of 147
2/6/12 at 8:30pm

I was once a teen and I realized that people treated me different, not only because I am African, but also because I was dark skin. I started lightening at 14, and i never really got any where. But I wanted to lighten because I wanted to fit in, or be just as pretty as.I didn't want to hear that I was beautiful based on an exception. When I turned 18, I began lightening again, and I became lighter, but It was based on cosmetic reasons. I didn't like my uneven skintone....at 21, the reason I am lightening is still the same.I don' t think I would ever base my lightening in hopes to become more appealing to society.  Many dark women / WOC have done great things in this country. They have received triumphant success, not because of how they looked like, but because they are intelligent, brave, and strong. The actions of these dark women have changed the lives of many around the world. Whether I am dark or light as my natural birth color, I know that I will be successful, and I will not be confound to any negative statistic of black women. I grew up in a rough city, and where I am from, those statistics don't matter ... everyone that is black in the judicial system is facing time for their action.The black man is a commodity. The white America fears change and they know that a black man who is no longer mentally enslaved is strong and fearless.

 

If any one is solely basing their lightening on the purposes of  getting better treatment or being seen equal to others within your race, you should take envy out of the equation, and see if you can really prove that life is better on the lighter side..

 

If you have faith in God, we will all be placed in the right  "social" / "financial" situation at the right time... and we will be placed in situations where people will overlook our color.

currently: lightening + exfoliating! 

 

Inspiration
(16 photos)
  
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currently: lightening + exfoliating! 

 

Inspiration
(16 photos)
  
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post #20 of 147
2/6/12 at 8:50pm

AMEN SHA! ,MUCH SUCCESS ON UR JOURNEY!

SUPERGIRLtongue.gif
Light skin and lovin it!

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SUPERGIRLtongue.gif
Light skin and lovin it!

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