The Chinese perspective on pale skin is a good example of how some markers of beauty are socially constructed and can vary completely from country to country.
In America, people compliment my hair, but rarely has anyone ever said to me, “I love how incredibly pale you are.” Tan skin is much more desirable than Casper-white skin. It is associated with good health, with having leisure time to go to the beach or money to go on a tropical vacation, and with American celebrities, whom we emulate. But while America has tanning lotion to achieve a fake glow, China has whitening lotion to reverse any natural suntan.
In America, people compliment my hair, but rarely has anyone ever said to me, “I love how incredibly pale you are.” Tan skin is much more desirable than Casper-white skin. It is associated with good health, with having leisure time to go to the beach or money to go on a tropical vacation, and with American celebrities, whom we emulate. But while America has tanning lotion to achieve a fake glow, China has whitening lotion to reverse any natural suntan.
In China, as in Thailand, tan skin is associated with poor farmers, who must work in the fields instead of indoors at higher paying and more desirable jobs. Everywhere girls and guys carry umbrellas to shield their skin from Beijing’s brutal sun. Even in sweltering weather, girls cover their arms with detachable long sleeves and many wear pants. Here, soaps and creams are marketed as whitening soaps and whitening creams. I accidentally bought a whitening soap the other day. I’m afraid it might have worked, although admittedly it’s difficult to tell.
my soap
At Badaling, the very touristy section of the Great Wall, with a new friend. 她告诉我她从来没见过那么白的皮肤。 She told me she had never seen skin so white.谢谢
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