Why people with white skin want to be tanned,and why people with dark skin are bleaching it with creams?

Question

Why are we never happy?

Answer 1

For a long time (before they found out that too much tanning might cause skin cancer) getting tanned showed that you had a lot of free time (no work to do), or could go to sunny places, implying you have the money to do so. In short: a tanned skin means you are rich. A few centuries ago it was just the opposite: people (especially women) tried to keep their skin as white as possible, they stayed out of the sun, wore veils or parasols to evade tanning. At that time it sort of proved they did not have to work outside, and must have a rich husband or a lot of money: they could stay inside and be lazy.

In many places for a long time the white race was the dominant race (in power, that is), they were the ruling class. That meant for people with dark skins they wanted to look like the "upper class", and therefore tried to look as "white" as they could.

These "mental images" of what is powerful, rich or "upper class" still linger on.. and of course parts of it still are true in some places. And of course, "fashion" plays into these mental images: they advertise with creams and self-tanners to make you feel you could look "better".

In short, both questions can be answered by "they want to look rich, powerful, belonging to the "upper class" people in their society".

Answer 2

First of all black people do not bleach there skin, Michael Jackson is just messed up in the head. Black people are the most proud of their race and would never want to be white. Lightening cream and bleachers are only used because some black skin has very uneven tone so that cream helps make it even, So please don't ever think we are trying to lighten our skin, because obviously it is envied by pale skin people because we have so many different brown and tanned beautiful skin,

Answer 3

I have fair skin. I call myself Casper, (as in the cartoon ghost). I look pale and sickly most of the time, even though I'm quite healthy, and having a slight tan makes me look a little healthier, that's all. When I was younger I sun bathed a lot but was careful of the burning, and I looked better. But now, at my age, I don't worry about it too much.
Some people may think that they're too dark and would like to have a lighter complexion.

Answer 4

Holy god don't let these people make you feel this way. I am light skin caucasian with red hair and green eyes, and I went through hell in school, too, for being different in my views (vegan, animal rights, athiest, etc)and because I have a twin sister and because I looked like I was from someplace else, too. My grandpa is from Ireland and I am part Czech. Trust me, I have been all over southern region of Africa, and East Africa. Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Jamaica. Some of the most beautiful people I have seen are African with skin so dark it is nearly blue black. Step away from the bleaching cream. Believe in yourself. I know you are having a really hard time right now, and it is hurting your self esteem. But you will see eventually that kids in middle and high school know NOTHING of the world and anyone or anything different from themselves. It also sounds like you are in a mostly white town and school. But believe in yourself, stand proud for all of your African ancestors, and don't, for god's sake, let these ignorant students make you feel any less than beautiful and intelligent and unique. Be proud of who you are and where your ancestors came from. Halle Berry has nothing on gorgeous truly beautiful dark black African and African American women.

Answer 5

How the hell do you bleach your skin, and why would one do that anyway. Tanning is understood. THe soft dark tone is Hot, and the pale is Not!!! If i notice any dark person bleaching themselfs, they really got personal issues and may need to see a health professional. Of course, I'm a male, and I have never heard of such thing.

Answer 6

Well, I surely don't know!

But, Michael Jackson as a white man sure is funny!

And, Conan O'Brien is certainly whiter than he wants to be: but, he cannot do anything about it!
(Redheads just burn...and burn....and burn...)

P.S: If blue skin were the ideal, the Smurfs would never go out of vogue. And, if orange skin were "the ideal"...well, then....Conan would most-certainly "have his cake and eat it, too" !!
(10 minutes in the sun, and Conan would be a wonderful-looking tall glass of carrot juice!)

Answer 7

*Shrugs*

Momma says life is like a box of chocolate- you never know what you're gonna get until you open it up and take a bite.

I do know I love dark women, I love the contrast between my white skin and their dark skin

Answer 8

Because the Madison Avenue advertizing companies make big money continually teaching us that we need just "one more product" to make us look perfect. Since "perfect" seems to be a moving target (and they move it) it is a never ending quest and a bottomless pit of income.....wow...long sentence.

Answer 9

Because people have a lot of self-hate inside of them. I love my beautiful mahogany skin.

Answer 10

It is because people are seldom contented with what God has given them