Do skin lightening creams create prejudice?
@soulsister_16 (738)
Switzerland
September 25, 2007 3:45pm CST
Should Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan appear in an advert to promote lighter skin?
Campaigners have criticised the Bollywood star for appearing in an advert to promote a skin lightening cream.
In the advert, a dark skinned man appears to have no luck with women, until Shahrukh Khan hands him some of this skin lightening cream, and in a plot reminiscent of a Bollywood movie the young man turns much fairer and is greeted by girls calling him handsome.
Critics are concerned the advert will intensify the prejudices that already exist within the South Asian community, where fair skin is often associated with nobility while darker skin is regarded as lower caste or lower status.
[b]What are your views on skin lightening creams? Do you use these products? Is it right for a famous Bollywood actor to endorse them? Are you concerned that promoting these creams will increase prejudice over skin colour?
2 people like this
1 response
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
25 Sep 07
I do not feel that promoting the creams is the problem. The commercial that you described sounds more like the problem. To say that my brothers need to be lighter to look good is an insult.
I for one would be terribly offended to see such a thing. I have dark skinned relatives who are still in their teen years. African American men already get enough pressure, all they need is for someone to make a commercial calling them ugly.
In fact, I am very glad that you mentioned this. I wish you would share your source for this infomation, but if not, I will get to the bottom of this. This is prejudice and I for one will not just stand by and allow this to happen. It is sick.
