In many countries, particularly places like Asia, skin whitening products are incredibly popular and provide huge profits for the companies involved in their sale. This essay will examine the reasons why people use these products and the effects this has on people’s health and on society.
The principal reason that people use skin whitening products is because whiter skin is seen to be more desirable than darker skin. To understand why, we need to firstly look at history. In ancient times, those people of a higher status tended to stay indoors, whilst people of a lower status worked outside, usually farming. As a result, those people who were indoors had much lighter skin, which means that whiter skin is now associated with having a higher status than dark skin. Another reason, which is partly related to this, is the desire for the ‘Western’ look. For example, plastic surgery to creat western eyelids and noses is common in Asia, and the white skin is part of this. These beliefs and images are also perpetuated in the media, with adverts showing people with white skin as more successful and attractive.
However, despite the fact that having whiter skin may improve a person’s self-esteem, these products can have negative effects. Regarding health, there are reports that people are harming their skin permanently as some products bought over the counter have prescription-strength ingredients. For instance, some contain steroids or toxins which can severely damage the skin and other parts of the body. In terms of society, there are also detrimental effects. Such behaviour perpetuates the belief that ‘white’ is better than ‘black’, and thus those with darker skin may experience discrimination.
In conclusion, people use whitening products due to the fact that white skin, usually through the media, is portrayed as more desirable. However, steps should be taken to change this image as the drawbacks of this are clear, with potentially dangerous consequences for people’s future health and society as a whole.
In
many
countries,
particularly
places like Asia,
skin
whitening
products
are
incredibly
popular and provide huge profits for the
companies
involved in their sale. This essay will examine the reasons why
people
use
these
products
and the effects this has on
people’s
health and on society.
The principal reason that
people
use
skin
whitening
products
is
because
whiter
skin
is
seen
to be more desirable than darker
skin
. To understand why, we need to
firstly
look at history. In ancient times, those
people
of a higher status tended to stay indoors, whilst
people
of a lower status worked outside,
usually
farming.
As a result
, those
people
who were indoors had much lighter
skin
, which means that whiter
skin
is
now
associated with having a higher status than dark
skin
. Another reason, which is partly related to this, is the desire for the ‘Western’ look.
For example
, plastic surgery to
creat
western eyelids and noses is common in Asia, and the
white
skin
is part of this. These beliefs and images are
also
perpetuated in the media, with adverts showing
people
with
white
skin
as more successful and attractive.
However
, despite the fact that having whiter
skin
may
improve
a person’s self-esteem, these
products
can have
negative
effects. Regarding health, there are reports that
people
are harming their
skin
permanently
as
some
products
bought
over the counter have prescription-strength ingredients.
For instance
,
some
contain steroids or toxins which can
severely
damage the
skin
and other parts of the body. In terms of society, there are
also
detrimental effects. Such
behaviour
perpetuates the belief that
‘white’
is better than ‘black’, and
thus
those with darker
skin
may experience discrimination.
In conclusion
,
people
use
whitening
products
due to the fact that
white
skin
,
usually
through the media,
is portrayed
as more desirable.
However
, steps should
be taken
to
change
this image as the drawbacks of this are
clear
, with
potentially
dangerous
consequences for
people’s
future health and society as a whole.