Today seems like an abysmally dull day in th office. However, yesterday had some humorous moments.
Emami, the beauty brand has launched a new fairness cream for men — and guess what it is called? You’ll never guess…and once you hear of it, you’ll roll of your chair.
‘Fair and handsome’!!!!
This product has been launched in Andhra Pradesh. Now you macho types will wonder why er…do men need a cream to lighten their colour when women are supposed to be the ‘fairer sex’?
Market research indicates that a fixed percentage of the sales of the women’s contemporary ‘Fair and Lovely’, have been generated by sneaky, Indian men!
It’s nothing to rejoice about, because the term ‘fairer sex’, is derogatory to dark, dusky women, period. I am dusky and I love my colour. I do not aim to be fairer or envy ‘fair’ women, despite having been brought up in a society where fair is equated with beautiful. Besides, the constant barrage of advertising and social pressures can make a dark, dusky person feel ugly.
When I was growing up, instead of clambering for a pack of Fair and Lovely, I stopped to wonder, how come Naomi Campbell or Smita Patil could look so gorgeous.
In fact, a friend of mine who happens to be dusky, is beautiful. But at the ripe old age of 28 she is still insecure about her colour — this inspite of being well-educated, funny, independent, creative and equipped with a dozen other qualities that add spunk to any new age woman.She always carries an umbrella when she heads out in the sun, to point of obssessing about it.
O how my blood boils when people make statements like, ” She is looks good, fair and all.”, or “Apply some sun-screen or you shall become dark”, in this day and age. Educated people in my own my family have made statements like these and I have given them a piece of my mind.
But, will that make any difference? Will it make them change their concept of beauty, as the beholders? I can make them shut-up, but can I make them see differently?
I’ve passed numerous days of my youth philosophing and experimenting on what is the best angle, exposition, time of day to get just that golden tan you harbour by nature….women are never satisfied with their looks no matter what assets they possess
What Daniele says is true also for people in the US. The ideal beauty sunbathers seek involves a skin tone much like what “real” Indians have by birth!
I’m sure we have all been brainwashed to some degree by those who want to sell us good looks in a bottle. The “ideal” is always something other than what one has. It reminds me of Dr. Seuss’ story of the Sneetches where the ones without stars on their bellies paid to have them put on and the ones with paid to have theirs removed. They all kept paying and paying for the star to be removed, affixed, removed, affixed, until they were all out of money and the shyster left town.
You seem like you see the big picture and are more comfortable with yourself, but I imagine the madness gets to you, especially when it seems that people you’d otherwise respect seem to have fallen for it.
OMG, I can’t believe it. But then I do. I remember this friend from Riyadh. He was from Hyderabad and as you said, it is launched in Andhra Pradesh (The brand has done its market survey to a perfect T). He would always carry Fair and Lovely with him in his bag. As soon as it was 1.30 pm – time for the girls buses to come into the boy’s compound, he would sneak into the rest room, put a whole load of cream on his face. Keep rubbing it deep into his pores and feel really great about it. And then he would go out in the sun, sweat, feel a stream of creamy white go down his face as he tried to create his first impression on the girls sitting inside the airconditioned school buses.
You look perfect the way you are.
Ignore those nosy relatives.
Hey Merril, are you okay? I haven’t seen you online for a week. Hope you made it through the flood and rains okay.