Why do people want to be fair?

Question

Is it because of the generally worldwide accepted supposition that "fair is beautiful"?

Does beauty and self-worth have anything to d with melanin content?? If it does, then my only reaction would be "Oh!! My GOD!!!"

Answer 1

i think its becuase the countries that dominated the world early on became the standard of beauty.

for instance, vietnam was a colony of france for a while so the standard of beauty over there is of fair skin.

fair skin also pointed towards wealth to a certain extent back in the day. rural workers were out in the sun all the time and became tan while the rich folks stayed inside all day.

but yea...beauty and self-worth shouldnt depend on this...but thats how society has it. i think its changing now though since everyone wants to be tan.

Answer 2

It wasn't worldwide. The US went through a phase in which tan was supposed to be more beautiful. The tide has turned again because they found that sun damage was related to skin cancer, but there was an arbitrary fad during which tan was supposed to be beautiful.

In the other parts of the world, in poorer countries, people want to have lighter skin because light skin is related to wealth. It's nice to be seen as rich and nice to have the luxury to stay at home or in the shade instead of working in the fields when the sun is out. (The US went through a phase in which that was the opposite: the lower income workers tended to be in factories all day, and the idle rich were more likely to lounge in the sun.)

I personally think naturally dark skin is prettier, actually -- it hides blemishes and peach fuzz. However, the sun can cause skin cancer, and nobody wants that. So, we're back to people wanting light skin again.

Answer 3

It's an interesting question...but unlike someone below who said it goes back only to the victorian times...they are dead wrong. It goes back FAR beyond that.

Even in cultures where it is the norm to be of darker skin (like in Mexico) those with lighter features are the ones who are actually seen as beautiful.

I'm not sure why that it. It may actually be something biological (as well as cultural although most cultures do seem to share this ideal). Perhaps deep down in our psyche's we interpret fair as healthy and strong. It's strange but as photographers, my husband and I were talking with another very successful photographer yesterday, who made the comment that her shots of children with blonde hair/blue eyes are the ones that get the most attention. In fact, in her case, they are the ones that have actually won awards.

Personally, I've always seen beauty in all races. But then again, when it came down to finding a spouse-without exception every single guy I dated had blonde hair and blue or green eyes. They guy I married....blonde hair, blue eyes. I was my personal preference just in looks. Although, I think that had my husband been darker I would have loved him anyway just because of who he is.

People place self worth on themselves. The fact of the matter is that fair is beautiful. But, so is darker. I'm thinking people should place less value on the amount of pigment on one's skin and focus on the mind instead. Others can't make you feel good about yourself. It's up to you my friend.

Those who can't cope with it...screw 'em.

I'm blonde/blue eyed and proud to be who I am. Quite frankly, being ashamed of who I am won't help anyone. But, I take pictures. It's my job to find beauty in others. And, I do....

Answer 4

The media has a part to play, not to mention the cosmetic companies with their latest range of whitening lotion and cream.
As most fashion followers slavishly follow what they dictate, 'fair' skin becomes the new 'black' and people are brainwashed into equate fair (read white) as being beautiful. It has its roots in post-colonial past as well in that 'whites' (read people) were somewhat more superior or cleverer or just more beautiful than the darker skinned natives. Of course we know better, don't we?

Answer 5

It is said that original man migrated from Africa. The original stock that remained there, remained black, because the continued exposed to sun made them dark. The human groups that migrated to other parts of the globe acquired different shades of colour of skin, depending on the intensity of the sun's exposure. The fairer groups were from the areas untapped and were full of energy and vigour. Because of their migrant nature, they were more war like, conquered many lands, and subjected the dark skinned groups.

Further, dark colour, by its nature, absorb all heat and does not reflect the light. They are therefore,less attractive than the fairer people.

Answer 6

By nature, every human being wishes to receive anything profitable for his body, mind, and soul.
True religion teaches that the One True God creates man with all potential spiritual qualities which are to be fully developed on this earth through philanthropic actions. Among those qualities are love, fairness, justice, selflessness, perseverance, forgiveness...and so on.
There are times men forget the divine lessons, but their nature still urges them to admire those qualities.

Answer 7

beauty may have something to do with self worth, so does your self-worth. but then it will only be as much as you put up with it. as much as you value your melanin, thats how much it will affect your self worth.

to most people,fairness adds to their outward appearance, however, if all people act that way, then there is no need for black contestants in beauty pageants.

cheer up, God, for all you know, is black :)

Answer 8

I don't know about people. Michael Jackson wants to be fair.

But people who are fair want to be dark. They try to awaken the melanin in their skin or put makeup on to simulate it, associating color with 'health' and fairness with pallor, sickliness.

Some people want to be different than they are. They can't be satisfied as is.

Answer 9

it's a remenant of an old, victorian-era fashion style that has somehow turned into a cultural phenomenon. back then, people wanted to be as white as possible. the less you were in the sun, the more rich and prosperous you appeared. this was back when rich people had servants to do all of their work for them. they considered dark skin a mark of work, and as such, you were thought less of.

Answer 10

Most people see what they want to see..if they see materials let them see and not wait them to see the inside (like your soul)..body is mortal but soul is not..may be beauty is valuable for a very short time,but beauty of soul is invaluable,its priceless..so dont care about beauty of materials..