Skin Tone

                                              (photo: bbc.com)

Ma Miss Universe baja an Negra? This is one question which could be considered ignorant but is still present in different communities around the world. This is also the main reason why Miss South Africa got the coveted title as she said:

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered to be beautiful. And I think that it is time that it stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want to see their faces reflected in mine."

Racism, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Bigotry, however, is a strong, unreasonable idea especially about race (including skin color) or religion.

Racism takes many forms and can happen in many places. It includes prejudice, discrimination or hatred directed at someone because of their color, ethnicity or national origin. People often associate racism with acts of abuse or harassment. However, it doesn’t need to involve violent or intimidating behavior. Take racial name-calling and jokes. Or consider situations when people may be excluded from groups or activities because of where they come from.

Racism can be revealed through people’s actions as well as their attitudes. It can also be reflected in systems and institutions. But sometimes it may not be revealed at all. Not all racism is obvious. For example, someone may look through a list of job applicants and decide not to interview people with certain surnames (humanrights.gov.au).

The reason why whitening lotions are in demand here in our tropical country is the need to have fair skin. It became a potent marketing strategy among big companies to add the word “whitening” on moisturizers and even soaps. This is the other side of having that repulsion to dark skin. Filipinos equate beauty to have fair skin.

Christopher (2018) mentions that, beauty transcends across gender, race, age and ethnicity. A person can be considered beautiful just by their physical appearances and through their actions. However, opinions about beauty differ when it comes to the color of the skin. In some parts of the world, beauty is perceived as “the fairer you are, the more attractive you’ll be”.

These are progressive times; there is a need for us to open our minds through education. The more educated we are, the less bigotry will prevail. A change of mindset must be instilled for us to accept differences and cultural diversity.

Filipinos are sensitive of being called as domestic workers. A lot of reactions from social media mushroom as the culprit will be grilled to smithereens. But we are also good in name-calling. We judge people of dark skin and the indigenous people. We grimace on the not-so-famous people and try to attach to people of prominence.

Our change of mindset on skin color must start now.

The paradigm shift should be made ASAP.

Skin color, religious beliefs, sexual preference and gender are NOT the criteria to be marginalized. These people also have beauty in their own right.