Beauty. A concept that we all battle with one way or another, for the most part of our lives.
As a child, I wasn’t really worried about it. I thought the world around me had beauty, and I defined it by what I saw around me – the trees, the birds, my parents. I believed I was beautiful too because I was told so by my parents. Then one day my grandmother came rushing to me while I was watching the TV, a bowl of fresh cream in her hands and insisting that I apply it because it would make me look fairer.
I wondered why.
Then I went to school and the girls around said that they wouldn’t talk to me because they feared they’d become dark and ugly too.
Then I knew why.
I wondered what was wrong with dark skin. Every time I switched on the tv and saw the ‘pretty, fair lady’ telling her ‘dark friend’ to use so-and-so cream and it would make her as fair and beautiful as her, it stung a little.
Am I not beautiful this way? Do I really need to use that cream if I need people to like me, be friends with me..?
Colourism In India VS The West
Most of the time we don’t realise the depth of the problem of colourism. While many in the West encounter issues of racism and racial stereotyping as situations that can be a matter of life or death, we in India find this prejudice against dark skin far too subtle yet troublesome.
Don’t Let Disappointments Hold You Back
A comment here, a look there. Consciously or unconsciously most of us end up judging a persons beauty, status and capabilities just by the color of their skin. In a country where more than 50% of the population is dark skinned, it feels ridiculous to see fair-skinned models being used to advertise almost every product available in the market. Fair is being portrayed as the color of trust, of faith and of course beauty. It’s like telling people that if a dark-skinned model told them to buy a particular detergent powder they would rather not!
A friend of mine who is actually very fair had to go through a tough time with her family because they claimed she wasn’t “fair enough” according to their standards! It crushed her confidence which took quite a while to get back. When my cousin was about to get married, the first thing her mother-in-law had to say about her future daughter-in-law was that her “colour was good”, that having being born fair was the biggest feat she could have ever achieved.
If today we say that the current generation suffers from self-worth and self-confidence issues, it is because of such attitudes and practices. It’s because people who were hurt by such comments chose to be quiet and believed that they could never be beautiful in the eyes of the world and so nobody really realised that this was an issue.
What Defines Us
Even though it took a while, I realised that my worth and my beauty was not defined by what others had to say on the topic. I was born beautiful, I am beautiful and no one can make me believe otherwise.
Dark is beautiful!
Personally Im impressed by the quality of this. Generally when I come across these sort of things I like to post them on Digg. Although this time Im not sure if this would be best for the users. I will be sure to submit something else though.
Written from the heart. A saying already prevails : BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP. You r as beautiful as anyother daughter, for u r beautiful from within.
Fantastic thoughts penned beautifully. A serious issue which is not addressed with the concern it requires. Expecting more such thoughts from you.
Well written beta. May God bless you.
Thank you!
Fantastic thoughts Caroline.A subject that needs to be addressed seriously has been so beautifully penned. Great. Expecting more such thoughts.
thank you very much..
Written from the heart. A famous saying already prevails : “Beauty is only skin deep.” U r more beautiful like my daughter. May god bless u.
Thank you so much..
There is after all, infinite wisdom in the old adage “beauty lies within”. Skin Colour is thought to be the sole determinant of beauty, character and worth. This ingrained thought will take a lot of effort to first weaken and then make irrelevant.
Well written,Caroline. Keep inspiring all of us with the incredible talent you possess.
Thank you so much for your support!
Dear Carol… you are exceptionally beautiful by your color as well as your nature… you are a born singer and that mesmerizing voice take you to the extreme level of beauty.. all the best.. and I feel dark is masculine..
thank you so much..
Very well written… God bless you
thank you..
Truly inspired by the article.Well expressed !!!.What is inside a person matters a lot more than our outside appearance.Each one is God’s creation, and precious to him.I always remember you as a happy and confident kid. God bless you Caro
Thank you so much!! Means a lot..
Caro – you have spoken on behalf of half of our population. Tough it is tough, you have articulated it very well.
Our God loves us irrespective of our cast, creed, colour or even our deeds.
Be strong and be bold. Lord Jesus will take you to unimaginable heights.
It is so sad, Indians are very preoccupied with the color of a woman’s skin. They don’t feel the same way about men. As long as he has a good job and money, they don’t worry much about his skin color. They look at women as objects and not as persons with a brain and endowed with the ability to love and nurture and raise beautiful family. In my experience as a teacher, they are more intelligent than men. They are some of the best scientists, engineers, doctor’s and politicians of the world.
In our modern world, only India and some Muslim countries still practice arranged marriage. Even China, Japan, Thailand, Philippines etc have abandoned arranged marriage. Marriage should be based on LOVE alone. Until Indian society adopts this philosophy, India will never get over the course of color prejudice.
Congratulations to Caroline for having the courage to expose this cultural handicap of the Indian society and for realizing that she is a very beautiful person with tremendous talent.
Thampichayan.
USA.
Yes absolutely.. Thank you so much..
Very beautifully penned Caroline… It’s true in Indian socity there s a inclination for fair skin… But there’s a saying ‘Beauty is in the eyes of a beholder.. and u too have written Beauty has all shades… thas the reality.. .Infact dark skinned people have very good skin texture… shinning skin…Look at the successful people, it’s their success story that is roared , nowhere it is said ‘ she or he was a fair looking person.. but the saga of their capabilities… When u have capabilities, hardwork in ur stride that becomes ur beauty… The onlookers pride… Keep going… Reach heights..Good luck.. ?
Thank you so much for your support!
You have spoken for more than 50% of our population. It must have been tough to write this, but you have articulated it very well.
God loves us and we are precious in his sight, irrespective of our colour, cast creed or even deeds.
Yes very true, thank you!
Dearest Caroline,
I fully endorse all the beautiful sentiments you so very well expressed. All power to your future endeavors.
Sunny appachan.
Thank you so much! your support means a lot..
Well written Caroline. Aversion of dark skin is deep rooted not only in Indian society but run deep in many cultures. It’s really a tough task to fight the neglect and stigma and to develop self esteem and confidence. You have done very well as an upcoming musician, actress and more over as a beautiful person. All the very best to your music career, as an artist and an activist.
Thank you so much!
Very beautifully written…. actually what matters is how your heart is……
yes very true. thank you
You were and you are beautiful gifted with amazing voice! Keep writing such inspiring reads for others so that they can ponder over their own stereotypical conviction.
Thank you so much..
U spoke me there… true .. every shade is beautiful every tone is beautiful
Truly inspired by the article.Well expressed !!!.What is inside a person matters a lot more than our outside appearance.Each one is God’s creation, and precious to him.I always remember you as a happy and confident kid. God bless you Caro
yes it really is.. thank you