Why when people lightenin their skin, others think they're trying to be white?

Question

I have read quite a lot of questions on skin bleaching here and 95% of the time the answerers claim that the person is trying to be white like michael jackson. Has it never occured to anyone that maybe the person is just trying to be a few shades lighter to become a lighter brown? The same applies to whites who are trying to be light brown by tanning - everyone seems to understand when it comes to this though don't they? A mediterranean light brown seems to be the ideal complexion nowadays yet it is still assumed that dark people are "trying" to be white instead of brown. It seems to me that some of the answers are indistinctly racist in nature and it takes a particularly shrewd eye to realise that they are actually implying white is better so dark people are trying to be white.

Sun tanning is just as dangerous as bleaching, if not more, so why the fuss when its from dark to light, but not white to dark?

ValleyViolet: I also have meditteranean light brown skin (I am Lebanese) & I like to use bleach in winter to get my body a uniform colour. This is why I was reading through the bleaching questions on here and I picked up a pattern with the whole "why are you trying to be white?" thing. It's ridiculous! Thanks for understanding my point, I loved your answer! btw, what nationality are you (if you don't mind)?

Answer 1

People dye hair, darken or lighten skin, get pierced and tattoos, face-lifts, tummy tucks....etc. It is a shame that making choices about personal appearance has become so political. People who are doing these things are not necessarily "trying" to be anything. You make an excellent point. I have what many people consider to be a very beautiful color, the one you describe as a "Mediterranean light brown." I love getting darker in summer and I use lighteners in the winter to get rid of blemishes resulting from summer mosquito bites and other little dings. I think changing skin tone is the same as changing lipstick. Many shades are beautiful and pleasing. As far as skin color is concerned...one is not better or worse than another...people like variations and should not be judged because they choose to change their tone.

Answer 2

I am extremely fair. I don't tan & never will. I'm happy with the skin tone God gave me. I get flack for not tanning, but I think there's beauty in every skin tone. I think you should care for your skin and it should be beautiful. I do think tanning is much more dangerous than bleaching & I won't risk wrinkles or skin cancer for someone else's idea of what beauty is. Good luck. 2D

Answer 3

I agree. It's a double standard that says tanning is ok, but bleaching is not. It shows people's ignorance.

Answer 4

I get your point...and you raise a good one! It's a double standard.