I am always amused that when I go shopping here in Munich, either the sales woman or another customer inevitably says: "Sie können doch alles tragen; Sie brauchen kein Make-up oder so was (You can wear any colour, and don't need any make-up or anything)".
In terms of skin tone, the German or generally Western idea of beauty is someone who is well tanned. The risk of skin cancer doesn't stop tanning being a multi-billion euro industry.
In terms of skin tone in India, it is the reverse - the fairer the better. This is one of the things that seem to be true across India. Indian film actresses are inevitably fair on screen (regardless of how they look in candid photos). I recall the brouhaha caused when Aishwarya Rai's skin was lightened on a magazine cover - although she is, by Indian standards, already quite fair. Indians (mostly women) use products like Fair and Lovely, which promises power with beauty (aka fairness) - that too with each wash! Never mind the cancer risk.
Indians don't hesitate to voice this preference for fair skin. I recall a male classmate in graduate school in India saying to a female classmate: "Why are you hanging out in the sun? You will get all dark". I am sure mothers discourage daughters from active sports for this reason. One can see this even in the classifieds for arranged marriaged in India - the brides are either "fair and beautiful" or they have a "wheatish complexion". There is no "dark and beautiful" in India. There is a whole category of movies that depict dark women as doomed to singledom and failure.
This preference for fair skin is prevalent even in Indian immigrant communities. I recall a relative, born and brought up in the US, saying she wished her new born daughter had taken after her (and not the father) - the father had a darker skin tone.
Unfortunately, although India is modernising at a rapid pace, this prejudiced and biased attitude seems to be deeply rooted in the culture. Here is wishing for a "dark and beautiful" future.
In terms of skin tone, the German or generally Western idea of beauty is someone who is well tanned. The risk of skin cancer doesn't stop tanning being a multi-billion euro industry.
In terms of skin tone in India, it is the reverse - the fairer the better. This is one of the things that seem to be true across India. Indian film actresses are inevitably fair on screen (regardless of how they look in candid photos). I recall the brouhaha caused when Aishwarya Rai's skin was lightened on a magazine cover - although she is, by Indian standards, already quite fair. Indians (mostly women) use products like Fair and Lovely, which promises power with beauty (aka fairness) - that too with each wash! Never mind the cancer risk.
Indians don't hesitate to voice this preference for fair skin. I recall a male classmate in graduate school in India saying to a female classmate: "Why are you hanging out in the sun? You will get all dark". I am sure mothers discourage daughters from active sports for this reason. One can see this even in the classifieds for arranged marriaged in India - the brides are either "fair and beautiful" or they have a "wheatish complexion". There is no "dark and beautiful" in India. There is a whole category of movies that depict dark women as doomed to singledom and failure.
This preference for fair skin is prevalent even in Indian immigrant communities. I recall a relative, born and brought up in the US, saying she wished her new born daughter had taken after her (and not the father) - the father had a darker skin tone.
Unfortunately, although India is modernising at a rapid pace, this prejudiced and biased attitude seems to be deeply rooted in the culture. Here is wishing for a "dark and beautiful" future.
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