This post is going to be a little personal but I feel it is very relevant to things I have been seeing and hearing lately. You know what, not even lately. It's more like all my life. I just recently have come to terms with what I consider is beautiful. I will even go as far as to say I've just recently within the past two years become more comfortable in my own skin.
Growing up my family always told me I was pretty and up to a certain age I believed them. Then I hit the teenage, "growing into myself" phase. When you live in a society that embraces "good hair", lighter skin, small facial features, and small frames, and you don't have ANY of that...you start to second guess yourself. I'm brown skin (in the summer super dark), big nose, big teeth, chinky eyed girl with a big round head,and fat cheeks. I didn't know what standard of beauty I fit. As a matter of fact, I didn't think I fit any standard of beauty and the world around me seemed to support my thought process.
Now I am a 21 year old young woman and I actually do consider myself to be attractive and my self esteem is pretty high. Yet even now, I STILL am confronted with my standards of beauty. On numerous occasions I have been the exception to guys, "light skin" rule. And in my head I'm thinking, "so I guess only light skin girls can be insightful, down to earth, friendly, (and whatever else they like)". I guess if your brown skin/dark skin you're automatically knocked of the desirable list. I have even had a distant cousin come to me and say, "wow, I have a dark skin cousin.....AND SHE'S PRETTY!!". What does that even mean?!
And it's horrible because children are the first to pick up on these things! As a young girl I loved Beyonce but had to play Kelly because I was dark skin and my friend was light skin. Let's not even consider the fact that I was the only one that could sing. An example of how to a kid, the skin color takes precedence over talent. Times are changing but still this seems to be a problem still around.
I personally believe that every skin color is beautiful and should be embraced. I embrace my tan in the summer and refuse to be ashamed. It gets under my skin how even in the media "light is right" and "black is wack". That probably wasn't the best saying but I think you can get the over all effect of what I mean.
What do you think about society's standard of beauty and it's affect on the world around us?
I mean it does seem like dark skin girls are exception at times, but I think that's good one can change there perspectives of all women. It only takes one to change the game...
ReplyDeleteBut I feel like a woman 1, shouldn't be judged by her beauty and 2 if so, judge them individually. That's like saying tall boys are ugly and short boys are cute.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you...I hate how black people segregate themselves by the different shades of color.I love all women of color so it shouldn't matter...Looks do play a part but ultimately, its the inside that counts.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! I don't expect for people to ignore looks but I just don't think people realize that what they say has an affect on people
ReplyDeleteYea I got the same treatment as kid...and I still get stereotyped nowadays. and your right people don't realize it..But as long as they're so cynical, they'll be trapped in the abyss of their own ignorance.
ReplyDeleteYea it definitely happens to everyone, I can only go from my personal point of view though
ReplyDeleteDamn gurl I feel you 100% cause I went through the same thing in middle school on up. I don't understand why we have to be defined by our color of skin to even be considered beautiful cute or w.e the case may be. Its ridiculous. Black is beautiful whether ur light brown skin or dark.
ReplyDeleteHey sis! Love this. I need to go back and read some of your older blogs...
ReplyDeleteI think this is the diary of every black girl lol. Honestly, I've gone through my entire life questioning my beauty because of society's impossible, unattainable standards of beauty. Notice that the colors brown and black have never been associated with beauty. When you think of brown most people think of dirt, dirty..sometimes even poop! Black you think evil, bad, darkness. White has been associated to purity, the color of God. That's sad...
When you really think about, the color white has no depth. Its pale and lifeless. Although brown is associated with dirt, it is of the earth (as black people are believe to be "of the earth" anyway)....idk....this is just a few of my many thoughts.
Glad you posted this!
I know exactly what you're talking about! I just felt like that was a whole other blog post lol Thank you so much for commenting and you definitely should read some of my other posts!
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