Why is it that it’s socially acceptable to darken your skin but not lighten it?

Answer 1

Lightening skin was used by people of color (of many different races) because they thought that being lighter was more socially acceptable/beautiful as they would look closer to white. People of color were long made to feel that their darker skin was inferior, so lightening it was misguided way of looking to be accepted in a world that didn't appreciate beauty or value in races other than caucasian. Unfortunately, some people still believe this to be true.

Tanning is seen as just wanting to look better, without the lack of self worth (or color hate) tag attached.

Answer 2

In the past it was good to whiten your skin because it meant you did not work outside. Only people who worked outside were tanned or dark. So if you were light, especially really light that meant you had money and you came from a high class family. Today a tan means that you have money to travel around the world or your so rich you can just sit out in the sun all day. However, there are people who lighten their skin because they believe that it is the only way to progress in life. I just think its socially acceptable to darken your skin because it can be done naturally by sitting outside. It doesnt work the opposite. It would be funny if people got lighter by sitting in the dark. usually chemicals are used to lighten the skin and im not sure of a natural way to get lighter thats probably why its on socially acceptable.

Answer 3

It's a status symbol - it indicates that you have the leisure to work on a tan, and that you can go to exotic locales where there is enough sun to do so. However, in China up until very, very recently, the overwhelming status symbol was pale skin as it indicated that you weren't labouring in the fields, but now there is a growing trend toward the western ideal. At the same time, there are a number of products intended to make you paler that are targeted at westerners, e.g. Skii, a brand of lightening products, uses Cate Blanchett as one of its models to attract people who want to work towards the version of the ideal of beauty she is presenting.

Answer 4

Some people lighten their skin. Look at Michael Jackson.

Answer 5

Your hair only lightens because the daylight bleaches the pigment. Your epidermis darkens because the more desirable it really is uncovered to the daylight, the better the melanin count number receives. The melanin provides your epidermis a darker colour and it protects your epidermis from the daylight.

Answer 6

Not according to Michael Jackson.

Answer 7

it depends on what ur ethnicity is becausei figure that overall dakening ur skin to the point that it's brown would NOT be acceptable...hello think about african-americans civil rights movement...affirmative action