Skin Deep (cc2)

     As spring and summertime approach, one's healthy glow, tan, bronze, etc. is called into question as one looks in the mirror. Generally, we here in the U.S. hold the opinion that being more tan means being more healthy or fashionable. Underlying this belief is the subconscious idea  that being tan also means being more successful, wealthy, important, or higher class. But is that really so? In India , "lightening creams" are popular, as is wearing ski masks on the beach in China. So...how did we get this fairly ridiculous idea that how tan you are means anything at all?
    The explanations you will find vary on specifics, but one pattern emerges: over time, socio-economic lifestyles and geography were attributed to social class or ethnicity. The type of skin color valued shifts as society shifts. Let's look into some further examples.
     Europe, as far back and further than the Renaissance, valued paleness. Women put lead and arsenic based whitening creams to appear paler. Shakespeare' praises paleness continuously in his work. In these Anglo-Saxon cultures, including the U.S. and Australia, history has shown that paleness is valued because it meant you could afford to be indoors, instead of outside working as a laborer or farmer. This perfectly illustrates how your job = your tan = an expression of your "class". On the tan side of the coin, showing up more recently, being tan is seen as a sign that you have time to be leisurely, visit the beach, etc., which in turn speaks to being physically healthy and (more subjectively) attractive. This perspective has also been noted on the coast of countries, where the interior tends to feel towards paleness.
    Latin America is no exception to this historic trend of valuing skin shade, but I think Latin America is also a wonderful example of how we can celebrate rich ethnicity. For smaller islands and countries, there is an astronomic density of diversity of background, from German and French to hundreds of indigenous cultures to Caucasian, African, and other Latin countries. There is a deep pride stemming from those who identify as Latino, and they are proud of where they come from. This attitude is also prevalent alongside the obsession of pale vs. tan. Many speak that they are proud to simply be themselves. Maybe someday that will come back into style.