Sindy Jimenez

Humanities and Arts

Professor Brener

10/18/21

 Lewis, Kelly M et al. “Investigating Motivations for Women’s Skin Bleaching in Tanzania.” Psychology of women quarterly 35.1 (2011): 29–37. Web.

This text talks about motivation in the reasoning why African American women in Tanzania bleach their skin. A Lot of it had to do with westernization and the approval of men and wanting to be white and “beautiful”. Other reasons were skin diseases, rashes, to have soft skin and the look of being european. This study was given to 42 women who were interviewed in Dar es Salaam who were reported engaging in skin-bleaching practices. Skin bleaching is discussed as a potentially harmful body modification practice in which women feel an internalized and externalized beauty standard in society. Policy intervention and research on it is discussed in this text.

In this text the author examines the chemicals used in this practice and how skin bleaching products have been a multi-billion dollar industry. It described how African american women are the sole consumers of this product. The author’s motivation seems to be more about the motivation of these consumers and less on the product itself and while there are many complications of these products, the biggest complication of this westernization.

This text will help me with my op-ed because it will give me the foundation on why skin bleaching is such a  huge part of westernization and how beauty standards in society have led women to use dangerous chemicals just to satisfy an idea that has been instilled in African women for decades. 

  “The Skin Bleaching Epidemic: Reply to ‘Regulation of Skin Lightening Agents in the United States and Implications for Public Health.’” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2021): n. pag. Web.

In this text the author talks about the pressure of black women and the issue of beauty standards and pre-eminence of White features. It follows a study of 168 Indian women and 149 african americans in the united states. Findings discussed self-objectification because of skin surveillance and texture dissatisfaction. African American women are in environments where they are deemed less attractive than white women. It also highlights how the media views women of darker complexion and how they are less desirable.

The author discusses how lighter skin tones are more associated with higher education, personal earnings and marital status. The author follows India’s newspaper the “sunday times” and how skin tone was referenced more for brides than for grooms. Shedding light on the fact that colourism in a beauty standard leads to these certain skin bleaching practices.

This text will help me with my op-ed assignment because it clarifies how around the world has been seen and practiced even outside the United states. It also sheds light on news outlets and newspapers target the appearance of women and deem whether they are good enough for marital statuses and even higher education.