Why is dark complexion considered uglier than lighter?

1. 74

   SilentMagentaposted 10 years ago

   Why is dark complexion considered uglier than lighter?
   
   In almost every minority the term "to dark" is considered an insult. Why?

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2. 70

   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   
   
   Personally speaking I don't believe that is true everywhere.
   People Magazine chose actress Lupita Nyong'o for their cover of the 50 most beautiful people in the world 2014. Denzel Washington was crowned  by People Magazine as the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1996!
   A lot of women go "ga ga" over Idris Elba, Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, and Tyrese Gibson just to name a few dark skinned actors.

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3. 75

   Besarienposted 10 years ago

   Who considers darker skin less attractive? I think a lot of people want what they don't have. Darker people lighten their skin. Fairer people tan. The secret is to be happy with yourself just as you are.

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4. 65

   Tusitala Tomposted 10 years ago

   Not sure whether I agree with you atall on this one.  Haven't you heard the expression, "Tall, dark and handsome."   It a very common one and generally is the description given to very desirable eligible bachelors.    All my life I've been short, fair, and pretty ordinary and never referred to in such a desirable way.
   
   And what do you mean by complexion?   I'm assumning you're not talking about racial colouring here.   Jane Russell acted alongside Marilyn Monroe in a film many years ago and from what I deduce, although Marilyn was renowned all over the world as a glamour girl, Jane, who was pretty gorgeous, was also regarded as a very desirable woman.  In the film, The Outlaw, Jane was the glamorous temptress that brought Billy the Kid undone. Jane was a brunette and of 'dark complexion.'
   
   Personally, I think you're right off the mark with this one.

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5. 88

   Jodahposted 10 years ago

   Sorry I don't agree either. I prefer a darker complexion and find it generally more attractive than white and pale, but each to his own I guess. Until we found out it was a real danger of getting skin cancer and melanoma everyone I know spent hours at the beach trying to get a darker tan. That has changed to some extent now, but still shows a lot of people preferred a tan. As Baserian says a lot of us want what we don't have.

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6. 82

   gmwilliamsposted 10 years ago

   
   
   In Europeanized/Westernized societies, the lighter the better.  Blondes are still viewed in such societies as the beauty ideal.  When Africans, Asians, and Natives were overtaken by Europeans, the light skin idea was severely implanted into their consciousness.   People of color, regardless of whether they were African, Asian, Native, or Latino were taught that their skin color were inherently inferior to that of the European.
   
   Transplanted Africans in the Americas learned this particularly well.  The more Europeanized/lighter skinned, finer featured they were, the more beautiful and acceptable they were.  Conversely, the darker, more Africoid, more ethnic featured they were, the uglier they were deemed.  Even though slavery and colonization ended, this residual result of shadeism/colorism still remains to this day.   Since blondeness/lightness is still considered the idea, there are darker skin people who bleach their skin and dye their hair in order to appear more lighter, hence acceptance to society. 
   
   Also blonde/lighter skinned women are seen as feminine while darker skinned women are viewed as masculine. There are Black men who view the former as the epitome of class/femininity while viewing the latter as totally unattractive, even ugly.  The skin color issue is such an issue in the Black community where even medium brown skinned people DO NOT wish to be considered dark complexioned as that means that they are ugly and worthless because they were inculcated with the idea that  light= right while dark =ugly.

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