Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin (Tone) - NYTimes.com - 1 views
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September 24, 2011, 2:30 am
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Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin (Tone)
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SURYATAPA BHATTACHARYA
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Suryatapa
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at the age of six
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Three months ago, I wandered into a salon in Kolkata with my mother and came
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face-to-
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face with a prejudice
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In the conversation between Suryatapa and the beautician, I noticed that people in India are trying insist people with dark skin to be more "whiter"
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The beautician made assumptions to Suryatapa that the cause of her dark skin is the result of roaming in the sun, but in fact, Suryatapa was born dark skinned. This tells me that in India, dark skinned people are not properly welcomed
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Suryapata's aunts and strangers make assumptions, statements, and suggestions to make her look "whiter," and this makes her very irritated.
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my beloved aunts, and maddening when strangers suggest my dark skin is something to be “fixed.”
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No one in India seems to think it unusual to try to slap some bleach, or a herbal equivalent, on my skin to reveal a whiter me.
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Darkie, Blackie and Kaalia
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WHen Suryapata was a kid, people are her called names like "Darkie", "Blackie", and "Kaalia." Even when she is an adult, old friends call her names, and when she pointed that out, the friend told she was too sensitive.
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My color defined me and it stuck.
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self-conscious.
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Kaalia, remember me? When I pointed out that it was insulting, I was called out for being “too sensitive.”
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“We called you that with love,”
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I have knowledge about neighbors, aunts, and strangers. Whenever they see you, they make staements, assumptions, and suggestions based on what you look. For instance, if you look skinny, they encourage you to eat more. If you look "dark," they make statements that you look really dark.
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Well-meaning aunts and their neighbors worried about my marriage prospects.
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Like that should justify the hurt.
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Suryapata's aunts worried that her being dark skinned could affect her marriage, so they are worried, and suggest using homemade concoction, little less sun exposure, and extra layers of sandalwood paste.
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Perhaps, they suggested, a little less sun exposure, or maybe a few extra layers of sandalwood paste or a homemade concoction that the neighborhood swore by?
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I believe that the aunts never give up because they want Suryapata to look "whiter". Until she is totally bleached, then they will stop making statements and assumptions about her.
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I wouldn’t let anyone touch my face.
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The aunts sighed but never really gave up.
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Instead, in this country, it is everyone’s business to correct it or cover it up.
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I realize now that in India, it is everyone's business to correct or cover up one's dark skin. Even though it is a personal thing, it is open to the public opinion.
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The personal is open to public opinion, whether it makes you squirm or not.
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Few Indians seem to be comfortable in their dark skin.
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So it is no surprise that a multi-billion rupee market in fairness products thrives in India.
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whitened versions of themselves, urging you to pick up a tube or two of the latest product.
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In this passage, the context relates to Vietnam. In the passage, it explains that in India, there are many advertisements and commercials on the latest product of lotions, soaps, and deodorants to make you "whiter". Similarly, in Vietnam and internationally, the market of products of whitening cream and other lotions or soaps is thriving. Everyone that is looking forward to a "whiter" skin is urging to buy these products.
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From lotions and soaps to whitening underarm deodorant; every body part it seems is could be a few shades lighter.
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Urban legends abound of how turmeric and milk, with their blood cleansing properties, had turned someone’s friend’s sister into a fair maiden – so I gulped down this vile concoction, gagged and never touched it ever again.
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adolescent weakness,
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I too was convinced to go on a regimen of drinking milk with crushed turmeric.
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When Suryapata was a teenager, like most teens nowadays, she was convinced in using products to make her look "better". But when she was an adult, she care less for these products and feel more comfortable and contented about herself. This shows that teens are usually not happy about the way they look, so they do stupid things that can harm themselves.
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As an adult I’ve become much more comfortable with the color of my skin.
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Before reading this article, I already know that in the US, having dark skin is a good aspect, and many people even look forward to tanning. But in India, people are being discontented by the dark skin.
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Over a decade of living in North America – where tans are pursued and Halle Berry is a beauty icon – helped that.
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So when I moved back to India, I was surprised and offended all over again, as I confronted people who still think porcelain skin is the epitome of beauty.
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society that embraced a wider spectrum of skin tone.
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Victorian ideas of beauty,
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“Do you do tanning?” I was dumbstruck and could barely stammer out a surprised “no.”
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In retrospect, her assumption says a lot about how Indians equate skin tone with beauty, confidence and social standing.
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Suryatapa Bhattacharya is the India correspondent for “The National” newspaper.
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After finishing reading the article, I realize that different cultures have different POVs and understanding.
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In India, having a dark skin is discourage. Suryapata, now an adult, tells of how her life is affected because of having a dark skin.
