Opinion | The Dark Side of Beauty Standards!

The demand for perfect and fair skin complexion has become a significant issue in today’s society. The belief that having a fair complexion is a symbol of beauty and success has been deeply ingrained in many cultures. This notion not only affects one’s self-esteem but also impacts their mental health and career choices. In this article, we will discuss how social media and society affect one’s self-esteem regarding their complexion, how the beauty industry and advertisements contribute to this problem, and how this demand for a certain skin tone affects girls’ lives when it comes to marriage.

The Pressure of Perfect Skin Complexion

In today’s world, people are constantly bombarded with images of perfect skin complexions through social media, advertisements, and movies. This can create unrealistic beauty standards and leave people feeling inadequate and ashamed of their skin colour. The pressure to conform to these standards can have a negative impact on one’s self-esteem, leading to feelings of anxiety and depression.

The beauty industry and advertisements play a significant role in creating and promoting these beauty standards. They often use images of fair-skinned models to sell their products, giving the impression that fair skin is the only way to achieve beauty and success. This creates a vicious cycle where people feel they need to purchase these products to fit in with society’s expectations.

Harmful Effects of Skin-lightening Products

In their quest to achieve fair skin, many people turn to skin-lightening products, which can have harmful effects on their health. These products often contain harsh chemicals such as hydroquinone and mercury, which can cause skin damage, pigmentation issues, and even lead to serious health problems like cancer.

Moreover, girls often face judgment when it comes to marriage. In many cultures, fair complexion is considered a significant factor when choosing a bride. Girls with darker skin tones often face discrimination, making it difficult for them to find suitable partners. This can have a lasting impact on their mental health and personal life.

Overcoming the Obsession with Fair Skin

To overcome the obsession with fair skin, it is essential to challenge these beauty standards and recognize that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and skin colours. Parents, teachers, and other adults should educate young people about the dangers of skin-lightening products and how to embrace their natural skin colour.

The beauty industry and advertisements should also be held accountable for their role in promoting unrealistic beauty standards. They can promote diversity by featuring models with different skin colours and body types.

Furthermore, it is important to provide equal opportunities to people of all skin colours. This includes hiring practices in the workplace and breaking down cultural biases when it comes to marriage.

The demand for perfect and fair skin complexion has become a significant issue in today’s society. It not only affects one’s mental health and self-esteem but also has a lasting impact on their personal and professional life. The pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards and the promotion of skin-lightening products by the beauty industry and advertisements need to be challenged. We should promote diversity, embrace natural beauty, and break down cultural biases to overcome this obsession with fair skin. It is only by working together that we can create a society where everyone feels accepted and valued for who they are, regardless of their skin colour.

“Beauty is not defined by skin colour. It is time to break free from the obsession with fair skin and embrace diversity in all its forms.”

– The author is a New Delhi based Law student. She can be reached at sanianawaz4321@gmail.com