Why Do Men Prefer Light-Skinned Women? Do Women Think Light-Skinned Men Are More

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  1. funshi profile image60
    funshiposted 15 years ago

    I think everyone  has there own preferences, You would think people prefer dark skin that's why they are out in the sun and at the tanning beds Always striving to look better, but not striving to be better people.

  2. AsiaFace Cosmetic profile image60
    AsiaFace Cosmeticposted 15 years ago

    This is a stereotype that has been fueled particularly in the Black American community, thankfully the global standard of beauty is becoming ethnically broader. It is shameful that we still determine beauty based on superficial attributes and not actions, morals or intentions. I hope my answer is helpful
    Have a beautiful day (pun intended)

  3. Bakari Chavanu profile image60
    Bakari Chavanuposted 15 years ago

    I have to agree AsiaFace. My wife is Black and is not light skinned. I see quite a few Black men dating and marrying darker skinned women. However, I would contend that there is a bias against darker skinned people and women in general, but that's not limited to just men.

  4. IndieFlickJunkie profile image57
    IndieFlickJunkieposted 15 years ago

    Unfortunately, there is still an underlying idea that light-skinned women are more attractive.   I could easily cite this issue as a result of slavery.   But the media continues to perpetuate the idea that real "blackness" is somehow unattractive or less desirable.  Times certainly have changed.   But this undercurrent is still very prevalent in our society.

  5. profile image58
    romaine_66posted 15 years ago

    As the child of a very light skinned father and medium brown skin mother, I think the answer is very simple.  It's a matter of personal taste.  I mean, I am very fair skinned, and I get hit on by all kinds of men.  Some are very dark, some are very light.  Heck, I've have been hit on and even dated white men.  I think it's a matter of taste.  Are light skin men more attractive?  Again it's a matter of taste.  But instead of getting caught up on the looks aspect of a person, shouldn't we be looking at the INSIDE of a person.  I mean you could be the most handsome light skin man God created, but if you don't have a good heart and soul, isn't it all just wasted?

  6. Kayte profile image38
    Kayteposted 15 years ago

    I would have to say that in some areas I am considered lightskinned and i usually do stand out in those places. I am considered darkskinned in other areas and hey I still look pretty good there too. However if you are asking me what I prefer, lets see... My husband is a very light skinned Italian man so I would say I prefer lighter skin and his wife (that would be me)is a medium brown African American so I guess you would say he prefers darker skin. So I think that means that you simply like what makes you happy and who cares what other people think. When you fall in love, his skin color will mean nothing to you, it will only be what is in his heart.

  7. dragonson profile image59
    dragonsonposted 15 years ago

    Well as color is only on the outside, it should not matter what skin color any Lady is. It really is down to the individual person. To me it does not matter what color someone is, it is personality and what is in there heart that really matters.

  8. profile image58
    sam90posted 15 years ago

    I agree with IndieFlickjunkie. the media helps perpetuate the myth that light skin is more attractive.  The fashion magazines, music videos and the entertainment industry in general promote lighter skin women all the time.  Boys grow up with this and that is how many of their preferences develop.
    Lighter skinned men are promoted too, but not nearly as much.  So many talented darker complexioned women are overlooked because of this and it is a shame.  Unfortunately, I don't see this going away until the media starts recognizing talent and stops focusing on complexion.

  9. atgny profile image56
    atgnyposted 15 years ago

    Most people are attracted to the opposite of what they are. I am a brown woman, I like a man my color but I always end up with a lighter skinned man. I have heard that some men think if you are with a lighter skinned women you have the better of the pick. Not always the case. It goes back to the days when whites treated certain blacks "better" because they had skin tone that was closer to their own, it also goes back to how comfortable that made the white people feel. In this day in time my thoughts are people are people. You never know who or what you are going to get until you get to know that person. Never judge a book by its cover!

  10. Paul Marshall profile image61
    Paul Marshallposted 15 years ago

    I do not prefer any skin colour. I look for the person within. I have dated women that were very dark skinned, & they are lovely people. I have also dated light & white. I was always more interested in the person, not the colour.
    I think that it is sad that skin colour is apparently so important. The best example of this is the now late MJ. A man of incredible talent, who had nothing to prove to anybody, & should have been very secure within himself. Yet he spent a fortune trying to change his image because he was not happy with how he looked. How he looked did not change the fact that his music is great.
    The same principle should be applied to people all over the world. It does not matter the skin colour, it is the person within.

    1. NiaLee profile image60
      NiaLeeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That is beautiful and encouraging. I personally have appreciated and love different type of people wether in size, shape, color and style. It is the person I perceived inside that interested me the most.

  11. CorpGiant profile image69
    CorpGiantposted 15 years ago

    It really boils down to what you think is attractive. My beautiful fiancée is a light caramel colored woman. The personality has a lot to do with it too. You can have a beautiful complexion, and be a rotten person inside.

    As for me, a woman has to be beautiful on the inside and the outside.

  12. Healthpad.org profile image56
    Healthpad.orgposted 15 years ago

    There are many things that effect person to person attraction or what they prefer.   

    People usually end up becoming attracted to others who similar however, similarity is only important in the beginning of relationships.

    So the reason why men could prefer lighter woman over darker woman is because darker woman are a minority compared to darker woman.

    Television probably effects a lot what is "similar" or what they are attracted too also.

  13. Fresh Body Works profile image60
    Fresh Body Worksposted 15 years ago

    Where do these statistics come from, was there a poll taken of millions of men, I think it is just of a matter of personal preference, where you live plays a part as to what mens choices are including the fact that some men don't date out side their own race, and then there are men who like all skin types, some men don't know until they have had a variety to figure this out. It is all mixed up in metropolitan area's I see a lot of white men with Asian women and a good amount with black and latino women, is there really a right answer ?
    Why Do Men Prefer Light-Skinned Women?
    Some do and some don't and some you just can't tell, some will and some won't and some it's just as well!
    Some women may think that light skin men are more handsome & some don't.   
    There will be an answer, Let it be!!!

  14. EdG. profile image61
    EdG.posted 15 years ago

    Well it really depends on personal preference and upbringing. For instance, if a kid grows up watching disney flicks with all those (primarily white) beautiful princesses, then he may be more inclined to prefer lighter skinned women. There may also be, for light-skinned men, an immediate sense of aesthetic similarity with light-skinned women. Then of course there is the racism issue and various societal or family pressures which affect the actual attraction less than simply who the person chooses to have a relationship with.

    Of course, there are plenty of men who prefer darker skinned women and in my personal experience I haven't encountered the stereotype this question addresses very often. Skin color shouldn't be the first thing you notice about a woman, or anyone for that matter, and it shouldn't be a sole determination of who you have relationships with.

  15. Judah's Daughter profile image80
    Judah's Daughterposted 15 years ago

    Wow, amazed that skin color is even an element of attractiveness.  Personally, I find all people attractive and beautiful.  I am white and married a white guy that I thought was gorgeous.  Then, when we divorced, I married a black man who was incredibly talented and attentive.  I'd love someone who wore a green mask if he were as awsome a personality as in the movie "Mask" :-)

    Anyhow, while I was engaged to a black man, I saw that black women seemed to resent me and so did white men.  It's too bad that racism is really the issue ~ not what is truly lovely and about love between two people.

    I've also observed that many black men seem to prefer white blondes!  What's the deal?  I'm a white brunette! lol :-)

    1. NiaLee profile image60
      NiaLeeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      everyone is beautiful, beauty shines through

  16. ilovehandmade profile image60
    ilovehandmadeposted 15 years ago

    If you are an Asian, they find lighter skinned people more attractive than darker-skinned ones.  In most of South East Asian countries, you will be surprised with the whitening products in almost every corner of the store.  However, when you go to Europe or North America where most white people are, you will be amazed with the tanning products flooding in the store and lines of tanning salon, as much as the flooding of whitening products in some Asian countries (in reverse), and whitening services/salon.

  17. vrbmft profile image73
    vrbmftposted 15 years ago

    Says who?  I must really be out of the loop.  I never heard this statistic before,  If women think light-skinned men are more handsome, whoa, I'm home free, but obviously women are looking for more than my snowwhite skin!!

    What attracts us to another person is quite interesting and neurobiologically quite interesting.  It's far beyond the color of skin.  Well, what do I know?  I guess there's a sizable portion of folks who think differently.  Wow!  Isn't that intereresting?  Of course, it is.  Ultimately, what makes a person attractive is something deep inside the person who is considered attactive.  The attractive person gives off an energy that screams, "Hey, take a look at me.  I am very attractive."  Hey, try it out for yourself.  Give voice to that message from inside your soul and then be amazed at how many people are suddenly attracted to you!   Serious!!

  18. Beyond-Politics profile image69
    Beyond-Politicsposted 15 years ago

    You know, the funny thing is that while human skin is only 1/8th of an inch think, yet people have as hard a time getting past it as they would a 2-foot think wall of steel! I can't believe that this is even an issue.  We like to claim to be looking for a (potential) SOULmate, but we still focus on PHYSICAL attributes!

  19. Pleasure Venues profile image61
    Pleasure Venuesposted 15 years ago

    I used to date a woman who was an off white greenish color.  she was alive, but looked like a dead person in the right light, yet I like her despite her ghoulish looks, oh, she didn't wear makeup either,... real green tho.  neat person too.  I'm alright with any color.  They have to be alive tho.

  20. Anamika S profile image62
    Anamika Sposted 15 years ago

    Not me! I don't like or dislike people on the basis of their skin coloring. I rather look for their inner qualities. I do not think light skinned men are more handsome. I find the tall, dark and handsome men attractive than the fair skinned ones.

  21. MyFirstPages profile image59
    MyFirstPagesposted 15 years ago

    I disagree.
    Men prefer darker skinned women, but lighter skinned are great too.

    It really doesn't matter unless it ties into their religion, but there is no overall group of like and dislike.

    Women honestly maybe judge character a little better, they are looking for a man that treats them right and not what skin they like...

    Again, it's all based on who you are.
    I like ilovehandmade's answer/

  22. Penina profile image59
    Peninaposted 15 years ago

    First of all: Where did you get the impression that men prefered light skinned women and by light skin are we talking about different ethnic groups or within people of African descent? I have a theory that it is simply a matter of being brained washed and following the set rules of a few who are in charge of telling the majority what beauty is. And it might just be personal choice or self esteem issues that makes us human so vulnerable to appearances and so dedicated on transforming ourselves according to what the media tells us is acceptable.

  23. BelayaSova profile image60
    BelayaSovaposted 15 years ago

    Very funny, editmasters! smile

    Let’s be honest, we have preferences! All of us do. It doesn’t mean we will marry or date someone based on the way they look or what kind of skin color they have! I don’t know what is scientific data on this topic, but personally, I always had a preference for men with darker hair and skin. In my silly mind, it represents strength and masculinity. I guess for some men it would be the opposite in terms of femininity…unless they like masculine looking women if it matters at all. I also think it has a lot to do with our parents and what they looked like while we were growing up. Men will probably prefer women looking like their mom when they were boys and vice versa for women.

  24. Princess Weddings profile image65
    Princess Weddingsposted 15 years ago

    It's all a misconception! People are people. If men prefer light skinned women, then I'm with the wrong guy. It doesn't mean you get treated better by a man because you are light skinned. Confidence and self respect are important. I'm wise enough to know it's not about skin color, it's about how a person treats you and how you treat others in life! By the way......both of my parents are light skinned blacks, I'm not biracial

  25. topshelf profile image62
    topshelfposted 15 years ago

    I personally don't care about how dark/light my boyfriend/husband was because your outer appearance can be gone tomorrow, so that shouldn't matter. All that matters is the personality!!!

  26. Patty Inglish, MS profile image89
    Patty Inglish, MSposted 15 years ago

    Musician and Actor Cab Calloway contributed to a documentary on the Cotton Club many decades ago. He explained at one point that Black Folks often went in the club to...Now Chris Rock... read more

  27. profile image52
    diane77posted 15 years ago

    they don't in Philadelphia. I'm a light skin black and I had lived in Philly (ninth-poorest U.S. city,black majority) for many years. In Philly many dark skin black young adults don't date light skin blacks. My light skin and brown skin young adult black cousins lived in some zipcodes in Philly that have many lecherous sex offenders and none of the black men would date my light skin black cousin and many black men wanted to date my brown skin black cousin. Sometimes brown skin blacks date light skin blacks in Philly. I've lived in cities that weren't like this. There are few light skin black and dark skin black young adult couples in Philly.

  28. ShadestoShoes profile image59
    ShadestoShoesposted 15 years ago

    I can't speak for the men. But I'm a 28yr woman and cute mind you but i actually like guys that are average or even below average best. Ive been this way every since I was little I wanted my future hubby to be chubby with blue eyes and nice to me haha

  29. ocbill profile image53
    ocbillposted 15 years ago

    maybe 20 years ago or so but with the masses (white & black) embracing r &b,rap,and trip hop boundaries are being crossed. Iv'e dated all colors and ultimately settled with one my same skin tone. More importantly, the initial attraction is our personalities and likes/dislikes and we're from different continents.

  30. PAPA-BEAR profile image59
    PAPA-BEARposted 14 years ago

    I do not, coffee and cream is my choice, in fact I do not think anyone has a preference, it is who the person is inside that clinches the relationship.

  31. John B Badd profile image60
    John B Baddposted 14 years ago

    i like all shades of beautiful so i would have to say we don't

  32. getitrite profile image73
    getitriteposted 14 years ago

    If you are referring to black men, it is more likely the manifestations of self-hatred.

  33. motricio profile image67
    motricioposted 14 years ago

    Sabor latino mami!
    - I preffer ligth skin women, I feel atraction to their green/blue eyes and red/blonde hair smile

  34. Druid Dude profile image60
    Druid Dudeposted 14 years ago

    I am attracted to brown eyes. Raven dark hair. Skin has never been a big issue with me. How many years?

  35. ngureco profile image77
    ngurecoposted 14 years ago

    Why Do Men Prefer Light-Skinned Women? Do Women Think Light-Skinned Men Are More Handsome?

  36. profile image50
    FelineFranceposted 13 years ago

    Most men prefer light-skinned women, especially in Black, Hispanic and Asian community. I guess it has something to with men working outside so they get darker and women stay inside so they are lighter. I heard somewhere that women produce less melanin than men in general, meaning if you were to get two people of very close to the same complexion, the woman would be slightly lighter. I am not sure if it is true. I do not really like light-skinned guys. It seems like women prefer taller, darker, and stronger men.

  37. profile image0
    Lesleysherwoodposted 13 years ago

    I didn't realize they did?  I'm a woman and I dont think light-skinned men are more handsome.  Surely everyone is unique in what they look like and whom they find attractive!

  38. TIMOBILE profile image61
    TIMOBILEposted 13 years ago

    Think light- skinned women are more attracted to men. This is because men are moved with what they see and lighter colors are easily ATTRACTED BY THE EYES. Anyway that doesn't mean they prefer them because after the first attraction and there is no inner quality to compliment or sustain the relationship, of course the relationship breaks.

  39. Victoria Moore profile image79
    Victoria Mooreposted 13 years ago

    I don't particularly like this question because any man who only likes a woman for what she is on the outside without getting to know who she really is isn't much of a man, he's a phony. Beauty is as beauty does and a person should mostly be judged by who they are not what they look like. I would never date or even talk to someone ignorant enough to only date me because I'm light-skinned because I also happen to be intelligent, kind and creative too.

  40. Doc Snow profile image84
    Doc Snowposted 13 years ago

    I really think that any sentence depending on the clause "men prefer"--or "women prefer"--is probably fatally flawed.

    Maybe 'some men' prefer light-skinned women; others will have quite the reverse preference, and still others won't care.

    1. NiaLee profile image60
      NiaLeeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      agreed

  41. celebritie profile image67
    celebritieposted 13 years ago

    In my opinion beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and if a person is influenced by what others think than they will make their decisions based on others peoples perceptions which is never a good thing.

  42. wholesaletoys profile image61
    wholesaletoysposted 13 years ago

    I am lilly white and am in the Philippines right now.  I love the brown color of women here.  Asian eyes and brown skin really turn me on.  I also like that my dollar goes a long way here but is a topic for another discussion.  And most Pinays here love foreigners with their light colored skin.  The hottest selling skin care product  here is a lotion will help make their faces white!

  43. profile image0
    GERALD710posted 13 years ago

    in africa.yes.unfortunately skin colour does matter.in kenya it is a matter of extremes because there are light skinned and dark skinned african tribes.everyone wants to get a kikuyu,taita,swahili guys and girls(i can attest to that.i am a kikuyu and light skinned).this scenario has forced women from dark skinned communities to bleach their skin.major freakshow

  44. Daelyn H Appleton profile image74
    Daelyn H Appletonposted 13 years ago

    Well I can't speak for what men prefer and I think that question is highly subjective anyway as no two people will prefer the exact same thing. As far as whether woman think light-skinned men are more handsome that would be a matter of personal preferrence. I personally have always been more attracted to men with tan or slightly darker skin.

  45. nightwork4 profile image59
    nightwork4posted 13 years ago

    it's funny what kind of answers you get on questions like this. people hate to sound racist. i think it's because the colour white relates to soft . what i mean is that light skin looks softer and white women tend not to be as overbearing as other races. i've dated black and asian women and they seemed to be more aggressive in their day to day lives whereas men usually want a woman that is softer, less overbearing and white also represents cleanliness so i think that factors into it also.

  46. capncrunch profile image76
    capncrunchposted 13 years ago

    It is called prejudice- an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.  Do all men feel this way?  No!  Many people are prejudice against their own race.  It's sad but true. As the song goes, 'Free your mind and the rest will follow.  Be color blind.  Don't be so shallow'.

  47. NappyMuse profile image60
    NappyMuseposted 13 years ago

    Well I am no respecter of color anymore.  I have the hots for a Filipino and I am a black woman.  But still love a chocolate man.  I love the way his skin glistens when he sweats.  I am chocolate too.  I love the way my skin shimmers when I put oil on it.  But now a days if his skin is healthy I don't care what color he is at all; because none of that really matters if the person inner beauty is fleeting. 

    I prefer a man with a beautiful smile and a laugh that make the atmosphere fun. I am a sucker for a beautiful smile and a happy disposition.

  48. Maxine Lee profile image55
    Maxine Leeposted 13 years ago

    I think some men assume that 'handsome' is a big factor for a woman looking for a partner - it might be for a select few but it has less impact than you assume in your question.

    Do gentlemen prefer blondes? As a brunette, it doesn't offend me if they do. My partner is shorter than me even though I claimed I could never be with anyone I was taller than, here we are, 15 years later...

    The point I'm trying to make is that this goes on all the time, about a whole range of things. I don't believe this is a racial matter, I believe that some men (and women) have preconceived idea's in their heads about what they do and don't find externally attractive BUT more often than not we prove ourselves wrong when we get to know the inner person (whether we initially find them attractive or not)

  49. Vishaaa profile image72
    Vishaaaposted 13 years ago

    Not really, Then I would have stayed single forever without a man who can love me truly just for my heart.

    I'm attracted to dark skinned guys more. They are sexier from my point of you.

    I don't think the color matters in love.

  50. rebeljewel2011 profile image60
    rebeljewel2011posted 13 years ago

    I have seen all types of men that I thought were attractive, my personal preference however is dark skin men.

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

 
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