Female Perfection
February 17, 2007 | Filed under Asian-ness, Body
In many Asian countries, the ideal of female perfection lies in the colour of their skin. Generally speaking, the lighter and whiter, the better. If you open up a magazine, you’re ten times more likely to find ads for whitening treatments than tanning salons. Of course, this stems back decades to when imperial concubines were revered as the beauties of the nation, with their white skin showing that they were wealthy and powerful enough to not have to toil in the sun. Dark skin was a sign of peasantry and poverty.
How do I concile this ideal of feminine perfection with the Australian ideal of the bronzed beach babe? Truthfully? I don’t. While my acquaintances are sunning themselves on beaches, heedless of the risk of skin cancer, I’m slathering myself with SPF30+ sunscreen, wearing a large floppy hat, sunglasses, a long chiffon kaftan that covers my skin, as well as holding an umbrella to keep the suns rays off.
In my mind, the whiter, the better. I aim for porcelain-like skin, and do keep myself out of the sun as much as possible. I always have. I probably always will. However…it does get hard on days like this, when it’s thirty-eight degrees and the sun is beating down hard through the hole in the ozone layer. Lovely…not.
14 Responses to Female Perfection
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Wow. If I was Asian with my skin tone, they’d bow down to me and kiss my white-as-chalk feet.
I don’t understand why the hole in the ozone layer is above Australia when it’s America polluting the world. Do you know why this is?
(I sent you an e-mail about the new layouts and IE…)
Nellie on February 17, 2007 #
yeah my whole life I’ve gotten the “you are too dark” from 6 very ..let’s say opinionated aunts. and then someone in middle school told me I was really pale -_- I still try to stay out the sun as much as possible, but I just can’t seem to get lighter *sad*
marilyn on February 17, 2007 #
Well I’m not Asian but Scandinavian and I’d rather have little bit tan cos otherwise I look like ghost. But after last summer and burning my skin and now dealing with dry skin (“surprisingly” it’s dry on those parts which burned), I think I’ll spend next summer under a huge hat and I’ll be dressed from toe to neck.
Hanna on February 17, 2007 #
As a kid I swam every weekend, so I had a nice tan. My skin went back to its original paleness as I got older, because I didn’t get to swim as much. For a long time I disliked being pale, but now I’m used to it. At least I won’t have to worry about skin cancer :P
Nikki on February 17, 2007 #
It’s pretty much the same in south american countries… although now it’s somewhat of an insult to be called white in Mexico… but it’s an even worse insult to be called an indio (indian) in refering to skintone. I actually heard two little girls instulting each other and one called the other a oaxaquita ( someone from the state of oaxaca, usually short, dark and an indigenous indian) as an insult.
I’m really divided on this subject, since I am apparently too dark for my mother and her side of the family but I’m really light to most other people. But I like getting a slight tan, it’s always nice to have a healthy bronze glow, especially if I get it while having fun at the beach. :)
Noemi on February 17, 2007 #
I like to go one step further: stay indoors. :D
Belinda on February 17, 2007 #
Yeah, I prefer Belinda’s method.
Jem on February 17, 2007 #
Lol. I imagine it is hard. I have pale skin, but it’s not because I don’t sunbathe, it’s because I sit inside for far too long. If I do venture out, my skin gets slightly tanned and I get freckles. I’m not bothered either way, but I make sure I wear sunscreen. I’m not going to get cancer just for the sake of a tan.
Laura on February 17, 2007 #
I’m very afraid of ending up with skin cancer so I am always covered in suncream. The truth is, I have very olive toned skin that’s quite dark so it tans easily and becomes darker after just a few hours in the sun. But because in the winter I’m so pale I like having a little colour. I hate being this pale.
But, you know, I might actually get tanned if I ventured out doors…
Amber on February 17, 2007 #
@Nellie: Because the Americans are controlling the weather.
So true, so true. Especially here in the Philippines where they simply adore anything American — I think it’s the biggest flaw in our culture. I go for clear skin more than anything, as long as it’s all an even colour and free from blemishes I like my skin :)
Kat on February 18, 2007 #
Since Im a redhead, I have really white skin. I stay out of the sun as much as possible too ;)
It’s quite weird that there are such differences. Here in Sweden you should be tanned all year round…
Malin on February 18, 2007 #
I hate getting tan (more out of fear of cancer), but I hate being pale. I like to be in the middle I guess.
Carina on February 18, 2007 #
There are young women in Vietnam who have their skin bleached, or have their skin white … surgically. It really, really creeped me out when I first found that out. But I agree, porcelain skin is so .. good looking, it looks great with any hair colour. It looks great period
Jennii on February 18, 2007 #
I go both ways. Tennis tan ftw — just call me “Patches”.
Jordie on February 19, 2007 #