Are light-skinned women more beautiful?

There seems to be a general perceived notion that men prefer fair women.

Whether this is true or not, there also seems to be a desire among some women to have a fairer skin, to the extent that they bleach their skin to attain that fair look.

But are black women with darker skin ugly and less attractive than women of fair skin? Is fair skin an attractive trait in women?

Lilongwe-based psychologist Jack Pondani says there is nothing inherently unattractive about dark skin.

“While it is true that there are a lot of preconceived notions about fair-skinned women being more beautiful than dark skinned girls, anybody who makes one race seem more likeable than another race is either racist themselves or are unknowingly supporting racism.

“It doesn’t help if you are fair and dirty, as long as you are clean, black is beautiful. I know there are men who have these prejudices, but a majority of men look at overall beauty, not just complexion. Be confident and take time to beautify yourself, in and out, and men will surely be attracted to you,” he says.

Pondani, however, says this notion is propelled by the perception, in the entertainment industry, that light-skinned people are likely to get more attention than the dark-skinned person.

A Kasungu-based mother of three, Joyce Katamula argues that beauty is subjective.

“Different people have different views on what beauty is. Bleaching the skin is dangerous to one’s health. It just makes you prone to skin cancer.

“You don’t have to be light-skinned to look good or rich; so dress up and look good,” she states.

Katamula further advises women not to search for love that is driven by skin colour: “The problem with women is we are not patient. If a dark woman has self confidence, carries herself well and dresses properly, she will be spotted in the crowd. I believe it’s all in the way you carry yourself. I find it sad that some women feel bad about being black.”

Chris Kapeni, a Zomba-based pastor says he has observed that men are generally attracted to light-skinned ladies.

“The standard of beauty set in our society greatly contributes to how we choose partners,” says Kapeni.

He states that beauty perceptions that border on skin tone emanated from black societies in the West.

“It started with cross bred children who were given lighter work or taken in as adopted kids. Then came beauty pageants where only light-skinned people were allowed to contest. The standard of beauty set in these societies implies that light-skinned, skinny, long-haired women are ideal representations of what beauty is.

“Further to this, we see light-skinned women being given better privileges and opportunities. I lived in Jamaica and when I was a child, there were hardly any dark or chocolate brown women working in banks or high offices. This has led to skin bleaching as women with chocolate brown complexion feel that fewer opportunities are given to them, or that they do not meet the general standards of beauty,” he said.

He also blames the negative attitude towards dark skin on language which, he says, associates dark skin with bad things.

“I don’t know whether we have a penchant towards light skin, but phrases and idioms in many languages pontificate fair skin and point to the fact that dark skin represents evil and demons and angels are represented in lighter colours,” he says.

Kapeni says such perceptions portend the lack of self esteem that effects how dark-skinned women may view themselves.

“Loving and accepting yourself means so much more than someone else loving and accepting you. Most of us suffer from these things but are generally wholly unaware. These things affect us in very deep ways. To be clear, this is mental slavery.

“Until man is truly free of that programming, he will never be able to see the true beauty of his own black woman nor himself. I have never understood how dark skin is ugly. On the contrary dark-skinned black women are extremely beautiful and attractive; this is coming from me; a man who has mediated over misunderstandings in marriages and unmarried couples over similar issues,” he concludes.

A medical practitioner based in Dowa, Hector Msaliwa, advises women against using chemical bleaches to make their skin light.

“It’s believed that light-skinned people portray beauty and this forces dark complexioned people, who are considered below standard, to opt for skin bleaching.

However, medically, it is advisable to avoid such products. The side effects include acne, cataracts, setting down of fats on the skin, swelling of the skin and skin cancer.

“In severe circumstances, these products can cause liver damage and psychiatric problems including neurological and kidney damage. This is all due to high levels of mercury used in the products,” he says