In this video, Dr. Parameswaran, a professor of journalism at Indiana University, discusses the effects of colorism on the lives of women and how it affects them emotionally. Dr. Parameswaran focuses more on how women are treated based on the darkness of their skin color. She also talks about how younger women in their teenage years face more skin color discrimination than older women who have accomplished more in life. Dr. Parameswaran also brings to light that people with darker skin, who have received an education, face less discrimination than those who have not. When Dr. Parameswaran states that these educated women are less discriminated against means that they have a better chance to overcome their discrimination and can become more successful. For all of those who are discriminated, their self-esteem and confidence can be destroyed by being told, from an early age, that no one will ever marry them or not being picked to participate in school dances or other events purely because on their dark skin. In the future, this can lead to more deterioration in their confidence and lower the success and happiness that they might have achieved if they were not discriminated against.
I think it is cruel and unfair to be judged on your appearance especially something as simple as our skin color. There should be no reason to be discriminated against because one's skin is darker than others. I found this interview interesting and informative because Dr. Parameswaran was letting others know that colorism is present in all races with people with darker skin. Although colorism is the most present in the Asian and African countries, it is still relevant and an issue in many other areas around the world too. I also found this video informative, especially when the professor mentioned how young women are the target group to be affected by these beauty products to lighten their skin color so they will be more "beautiful" in the eyes of others. I found this video very interesting although I do not suffer from colorism but because I fall into the age group of those women who are especially being targeted by colorism.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n3sXZz2FeU
Friday, February 21, 2014
Saturday, February 8, 2014
#4 The Effects of Colorism on Self-Esteem
As displayed in this video, a young woman discusses how colorism, in our society, has negatively effected the self-esteem of women and men. Many women and men who have felt like victims of colorism, say that it has destroyed their self-esteem and confidence in being a person with darker skin. In my opinion, I think this is ridiculous how discrimination against people with darker skin is still present in the twenty-first century. Of course I believe that discrimination and segregation between different races should have never occurred and I would have thought that society would have moved past this and grown to respect people of all races. Although colorism still exists in our society and media today, not everyone is prejudice or ignorant towards others and I do believe that we are and can progress in our beliefs and treatment of others.
Video: http://vimeo.com/75723502
Sunday, February 2, 2014
#3 Video
This video captures one form of colorism in the black community. Singer and songwriter, India Arie discusses how she was scrutinized by her fans and the media for making it seem as if she lightened her skin color for an album cover. People were claiming that she was a hypocrite for not embracing her natural skin color and editing it to look lighter, which media claims is "better" than darker skin colors. In this interview, India sits down with Oprah and states that she did not lighten her skin for this picture, but she edited it to make her skin look golden. India is a prime example of someone who embraces her skin color and who she is.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
# 2 Article: Colorism
For those who do not know what colorism is, it is a form of discrimination purely based on the color of one's skin. This type of discrimination is more common around people with a darker skin color. Dating all the way back to the sixteenth century, African Americans with lighter skin were seen to be better than those with darker skin. Even today, the media influences people to believe that African Americans have more opportunities if they have lighter skin tones. By doing this, the media is sending the wrong images and messages that lighter skinned people are more likely to be accepted into the media industry. Prime examples of glorifying lighter skinned African Americans include Beyoncè, Drake, Rihanna, and many others. Another main example of colorism is Michael Jackson's story. Although, he stated that the reasoning for his skin bleaching was due to a disease called vitiligo, many suspect that he felt uncomfortable and discriminated against due to his darker skin color. Although media sends negative messages, there have been many television shows positively portray African Americans such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Cosby Show.
While reading this article, I felt shocked that media has such a negative perspective on people with darker skin. I believe that society should be accepting of everyone despite what the color of their skin looks like. To me, this feels as if we are going back many years ago when people were prejudice against others for their ethnicity and skin color, which is ridiculous. Although many people feel as if they are treated differently based on their skin color, not everyone is prejudice. Many people in our society are accepting and do not judge others purely based on what they look like.
Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/10/AR2009071000022.html
Picture 1: http://atlantablackstar.com/2012/10/13/colorism-still-plaguing-black-communities-around-the-world/
Picture 2: http://msmagazine.com/blog/2010/03/28/what-can-we-do-about-colorism/
While reading this article, I felt shocked that media has such a negative perspective on people with darker skin. I believe that society should be accepting of everyone despite what the color of their skin looks like. To me, this feels as if we are going back many years ago when people were prejudice against others for their ethnicity and skin color, which is ridiculous. Although many people feel as if they are treated differently based on their skin color, not everyone is prejudice. Many people in our society are accepting and do not judge others purely based on what they look like.
Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/10/AR2009071000022.html
Picture 1: http://atlantablackstar.com/2012/10/13/colorism-still-plaguing-black-communities-around-the-world/
Picture 2: http://msmagazine.com/blog/2010/03/28/what-can-we-do-about-colorism/
Thursday, January 23, 2014
#1 Introduction: Colorism
# 1 Introduction:
The reason why I chose to discuss colorism is because I was automatically very interested when I heard about this topic. I want to learn more about colorism and why many people in our society tend to discriminate others based solely on their skin color. Colorism affects people worldwide, especially those who are in the media, such as celebrities. In response to being discriminated against, some people have undergone bleaching of their skin to make it lighter in order to "fit in" with society's standards. This topics interests me very much and I would love to learn more about it.
The reason why I chose to discuss colorism is because I was automatically very interested when I heard about this topic. I want to learn more about colorism and why many people in our society tend to discriminate others based solely on their skin color. Colorism affects people worldwide, especially those who are in the media, such as celebrities. In response to being discriminated against, some people have undergone bleaching of their skin to make it lighter in order to "fit in" with society's standards. This topics interests me very much and I would love to learn more about it.
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