Comments on: Blending In http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/ The Premier Magazine for Young South Asian Women Sun, 13 May 2012 14:21:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kimberly Gonzales http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/comment-page-1/#comment-11818 Kimberly Gonzales Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:41:59 +0000 http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1491#comment-11818 What irritates me is that those who benefit from this largely unattainable status such as Kaif and Rai stay silent hoping to capitalise on the impossible standards that are set while the "dusky" actresses try not to make any waves lest their mouth finally kick them out the door in a way their skin already threatened to. What irritates me is that those who benefit from this largely unattainable status such as Kaif and Rai stay silent hoping to capitalise on the impossible standards that are set while the “dusky” actresses try not to make any waves lest their mouth finally kick them out the door in a way their skin already threatened to.

]]> By: hc http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/comment-page-1/#comment-9366 hc Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:07:11 +0000 http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1491#comment-9366 I say, don't wait around for the media to get with your program. Never mind 'encouraging' them to start using darker models. If there happens to be a dark skinned actor/actress/ news anchor/ model - be vocal in his/her support. Start a magazine or website and focus on dark skinned models or dark-skinned women non in entertainment: Maybe women who are doing well in various fields or socially conscious endeavours. I think men and women both suffer from this but highlighting women first might be a more pointed way of address this at least at first. I say, don’t wait around for the media to get with your program. Never mind ‘encouraging’ them to start using darker models.
If there happens to be a dark skinned actor/actress/ news anchor/ model – be vocal in his/her support.
Start a magazine or website and focus on dark skinned models or dark-skinned women non in entertainment: Maybe women who are doing well in various fields or socially conscious endeavours. I think men and women both suffer from this but highlighting women first might be a more pointed way of address this at least at first.

]]> By: Brown Girl Magazine » Blog Archive » Vaseline’s Skin Whitening App http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/comment-page-1/#comment-8980 Brown Girl Magazine » Blog Archive » Vaseline’s Skin Whitening App Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:18:59 +0000 http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1491#comment-8980 [...] http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/ [...] [...] http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/ [...]

]]> By: Shreya Mandal http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/comment-page-1/#comment-8132 Shreya Mandal Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:31:06 +0000 http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1491#comment-8132 Sneha, thank you for a most thoughtful piece on this very important issue facing many South Asian women. I really appreciate your courage and honesty to share your experiences. I am afraid that this is the reality that many brown-skinned women of color face due to centuries of skin color based caste systems and the ongoing cycle of self-hatred among brown people. Unfortunately, we also come from a history of colonization which exacerbated the problem. I believe it is the challenge of each woman facing this unique experience to learn to recondition her mind from these harmful societal messages so detrimental to our psyches. In my personal experience, I am someone who was born lighter-skinned but have progressively gotten darker-skinned as I got older. I am all too aware that I do not fit the standard Indian beauty norm, but have embraced my darker complexion over the years in a more self-loving and affirmative way. Mentally, I have come to a mindset where I would not trade my skin color for anything. I am a proud Indian woman who loves the fact that my skin has been kissed by the sun. But arriving to this stance took a lot of work. It entailed blocking out the harmful beliefs that many in our community have and surrounding myself with more positive people who appreciate me and affirm my own personal sense of beauty. You are absolutely right when you say, "Brown is beautiful." Shreya Sneha, thank you for a most thoughtful piece on this very important issue facing many South Asian women. I really appreciate your courage and honesty to share your experiences. I am afraid that this is the reality that many brown-skinned women of color face due to centuries of skin color based caste systems and the ongoing cycle of self-hatred among brown people. Unfortunately, we also come from a history of colonization which exacerbated the problem. I believe it is the challenge of each woman facing this unique experience to learn to recondition her mind from these harmful societal messages so detrimental to our psyches.

In my personal experience, I am someone who was born lighter-skinned but have progressively gotten darker-skinned as I got older. I am all too aware that I do not fit the standard Indian beauty norm, but have embraced my darker complexion over the years in a more self-loving and affirmative way. Mentally, I have come to a mindset where I would not trade my skin color for anything. I am a proud Indian woman who loves the fact that my skin has been kissed by the sun. But arriving to this stance took a lot of work. It entailed blocking out the harmful beliefs that many in our community have and surrounding myself with more positive people who appreciate me and affirm my own personal sense of beauty.

You are absolutely right when you say, “Brown is beautiful.”

Shreya

]]> By: Kelewele http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/comment-page-1/#comment-7804 Kelewele Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:03:59 +0000 http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1491#comment-7804 Your woes are the worries of all people on Earth with deeper shades. People will continue to be unhappy with themselves as long as they believe that being darker is a curse. It's a lie that has been made stronger than the truth. Be proud of what you look like. And don't wait for outsiders to validate your beauty. K Your woes are the worries of all people on Earth with deeper shades. People will continue to be unhappy with themselves as long as they believe that being darker is a curse. It’s a lie that has been made stronger than the truth. Be proud of what you look like. And don’t wait for outsiders to validate your beauty. K

]]> By: New Brown Girl Magazine post « That Brown Girl http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/comment-page-1/#comment-7463 New Brown Girl Magazine post « That Brown Girl Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:14:37 +0000 http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1491#comment-7463 [...] 23, 2010 by that brown girl My latest contribution to Brown Girl Magazine, “Blending In,” has been in the works for a while.  I’ve written here about the [...] [...] 23, 2010 by that brown girl My latest contribution to Brown Girl Magazine, “Blending In,” has been in the works for a while.  I’ve written here about the [...]

]]> By: Phil http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/blending-in/comment-page-1/#comment-7410 Phil Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:48:16 +0000 http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1491#comment-7410 I always got made fun of for being pale. I think everyone is looking for a way to see others as their lessers for the sake of their own insecurity. It sounds cliche but some cliche things can be made less cliche when you realize the truth behind it. In my case; my bullet proof confidence in myself saved me from being impacted too heavily by the attempts of others to make me feel like less than I am and (more importantly) less than they. I am reminded of the part of Half Baked where the hispanic guy quits his job at the fast food burger place. This is the attitude I give to anyone trying to play these petty games. I too dream of a world moved away from outdated stereotypes. Maybe some stereotypes are cool: would you say that Italians are typically fond of aged cheese and pork products? Well, having sampled many foods I must say that such things enjoy multiple spots in my top 10. Not surprisingly; I hail from the Parma region of Italy, which produces Parmesan cheese - go figure!(I eat it with a knife lol ^_^Y) I always got made fun of for being pale. I think everyone is looking for a way to see others as their lessers for the sake of their own insecurity. It sounds cliche but some cliche things can be made less cliche when you realize the truth behind it.

In my case; my bullet proof confidence in myself saved me from being impacted too heavily by the attempts of others to make me feel like less than I am and (more importantly) less than they.

I am reminded of the part of Half Baked where the hispanic guy quits his job at the fast food burger place. This is the attitude I give to anyone trying to play these petty games.

I too dream of a world moved away from outdated stereotypes. Maybe some stereotypes are cool: would you say that Italians are typically fond of aged cheese and pork products? Well, having sampled many foods I must say that such things enjoy multiple spots in my top 10. Not surprisingly; I hail from the Parma region of Italy, which produces Parmesan cheese – go figure!(I eat it with a knife lol ^_^Y)

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