Ebony, I've seen all those F&L ads on You Tube. People (esp women) in India as well as Indian women in other countries are becoming vocal critics of these advwrts & their offensive tactics. I fully support a person's right to alter their appearance whether that means weight loss with batiatric surgery, hair perming colouring or extensions or safely using a sunless tanner or a safe lightening agent. That, for me, is not he problem. The problems begin when people are:
1. Sold a dodgy product (dangerous, won't do what it claims, overpriced, vague claims etc.)
2. Coerced into buying by being 'shamed' or 'humiliated' (made to feel ugly as they are or 'not good enough')
3. Sold false promises such as in the ad you mentioned for F&L (our cream will make you: rich, famous, get the guy/girl of your dreams, guarantee you a great job)
these are things a cream cannot do. These are also things not guaranteed by skin tone alone. Lighter skin may be advantageous in some cultures & societies, BUT having the education & qualifications, talent, skills, experience etc. are what get people their careers. Imagine someone fair claiming the 'right' to be a neurosurgeon or astrophysicist based upon the fact that they were pale? Einstein had olive skin & was no beauty to look at. David Suzuki is Japanese/Canadian, on the dark side for a Japanese person & has a ball of frizzy hair. He's also one of the most respected scientific authorities on earth.
We have to have common sense & know the limits of what lighter skin is likely to do for us. You'll have the same spouse, home, kids, job etc. you did before you lightened-unless you change your qualifications through education & apply for a better job. Unless you divorce your spouse, you'll wake up beside the same person in the same home.