05-19-2006, 02:40 PM
Hey all
(sorry- I thought it might be easier to start a new thread on this so I deleted it but then the moderator said I should just continue in this one so im re-posting it.)
I'm a 12th standard student from Australia, doing my major work on the whole fair skin obsession that seems to pervade indian society. Im basically trying to get opinions from people living in India, and compare them with opinions from Indians living in Australia on this issue, and so then I would be able to find out just how much your cultural background influences your perception of physical beauty.
Any opinions, personal experiences or insights into this will be really really appreciated, as I could use it as my primary research.
Also, I need to have all these surveys filled out by people from India and Australia, so if any of you had the time to visit the site
http://www.my3q.com/home2/107/elizag/50097.phtml
that would be great as well
and feel free to add a comment.
Thanks heaps!
Otherwise, any comments on here would also be greatly appreciated
Just some discussion topics--
Is one's ideals of beauty (i.e. the ideal skin complexion) shaped by the power structure, or the values of their society? For example, in India darkness is equated with the labourer classes, and perhaps its history of British colonialism and Aryan rulers has contributed to the perception of fair skin as superior. In Western Countries, such as Australia, being tanned is associated with lesuire, a healthy outbdoor life, etc. and fair skin may be seen as a sign of an unhealthy indoor life, or is perhaps associated with the snobbish upper classes.
Perhaps the obsession with fair skin in Indians could stem from a shame of their cultural identity? Are they trying to emulate the white cultures because they deem theirs to be inferior?
How does the media contribute to this perception; e.g. the perception of fair skin in India is reinforced by Bollywood actresses and models, advertisements, television shows. Any examples or opinions on the role of the media in either Western countries for tanned skin, or India for fair skin would be great to hear.
Do we just want what we can't have? Is it just because fair skin is considered to be an exotic, and therefore more desired quality in India?
Also, it would be handy if you guys could leave you age, gender, ethnic background and the country you live in so I could compare opinions across different ages and cultures etc
(sorry- I thought it might be easier to start a new thread on this so I deleted it but then the moderator said I should just continue in this one so im re-posting it.)
I'm a 12th standard student from Australia, doing my major work on the whole fair skin obsession that seems to pervade indian society. Im basically trying to get opinions from people living in India, and compare them with opinions from Indians living in Australia on this issue, and so then I would be able to find out just how much your cultural background influences your perception of physical beauty.
Any opinions, personal experiences or insights into this will be really really appreciated, as I could use it as my primary research.
Also, I need to have all these surveys filled out by people from India and Australia, so if any of you had the time to visit the site
http://www.my3q.com/home2/107/elizag/50097.phtml
that would be great as well
and feel free to add a comment.
Thanks heaps!
Otherwise, any comments on here would also be greatly appreciated
Just some discussion topics--
Is one's ideals of beauty (i.e. the ideal skin complexion) shaped by the power structure, or the values of their society? For example, in India darkness is equated with the labourer classes, and perhaps its history of British colonialism and Aryan rulers has contributed to the perception of fair skin as superior. In Western Countries, such as Australia, being tanned is associated with lesuire, a healthy outbdoor life, etc. and fair skin may be seen as a sign of an unhealthy indoor life, or is perhaps associated with the snobbish upper classes.
Perhaps the obsession with fair skin in Indians could stem from a shame of their cultural identity? Are they trying to emulate the white cultures because they deem theirs to be inferior?
How does the media contribute to this perception; e.g. the perception of fair skin in India is reinforced by Bollywood actresses and models, advertisements, television shows. Any examples or opinions on the role of the media in either Western countries for tanned skin, or India for fair skin would be great to hear.
Do we just want what we can't have? Is it just because fair skin is considered to be an exotic, and therefore more desired quality in India?
Also, it would be handy if you guys could leave you age, gender, ethnic background and the country you live in so I could compare opinions across different ages and cultures etc