India’s Light Skin Obsession
‘Our family is cursed,’ screamed my mother-in-law when her daughter Sasmita was born*. Sasmita is darker than the rest of her family.
Her own daughter’s skin was so offensive to her that she thought the devil was playing tricks on the family.
Indian businesses and others in Asia have long sold ‘skin whitening creams’ or other methods essentially bleaching one’s skin, presumably making it ‘more attractive.”
In Bollywood’s A-list, both men and women are always light-skinned. The famous hawk skin lightening products nationwide. The number one cream is actually named ‘Fair & Lovely.’
Skin Color in Matrimonials
India’s newspapers usually have a personals section, but unlike Western ones, they are not written by the person looking for their match, rather they are posted by the family.
Reading through India’s matrimonial advertisements reveals the mindset regarding skin complexion.
Slim, fair, 30yrs, looks much younger, never married, 5 feet, sweet, homely, caring, responsible, intelligent, Chartered Accountant, well versed in all home-related activities, extremely good cook, exceptionally sincere & dedicated, emotional & sensitive
