Skin Bleaching in Jamica and Femine Beauty Essay -- essays research pa

According to leading dermatologists and author of the book "Acne in Black Women", Dr. Neil Persadsingh states bleaching is a process by which creams were used to kill the melanin in the skin. Melanin is the substance that gives the skin its pigmentation and protects the skin from the cancer-causing ultraviolet rays from the sun. The more melanin in the skin the darker the person. According to doctor Persadsingh most of the bleaching products contain large amounts of hydroquinone a substance which is very detrimental to ones health and includes side effects such has nausea, shortness of breath, convulsions, delirium, Damage to the skin-wrinkles, severe acne and marks which are irreversible after constant use. These products used to lighten the skin include creams and tablets, they are manufactured in Europe and North America, and are sold all over the world. Normally they are imported illegal into Jamaica. The perception of the average Jamaican woman who bleaches her skin is, the fairer you are, and the more likely you are to become successful socially, economically and romantically. As the woman mentioned in the star many are willing to take the chance of irreversible consequences to fit the status quo. The main question is what is the cause of this phenomenon in Jamaican society or on a worldwide scale among women of African decent. As many women of African descent all over the world are doing the same thing and similar things in the name of beauty and femininity, which if I may add is pre-described by white supremacy and western values. The situation of bleaching has a lot to do with African women’s socialization, their concept of feminine beauty, their faith in their s elf’s and their need to belong and to be... ... can say. I don’t have a problem being black but a don’t have a problem bleaching. Bleaching even though it as existed from slavery days was not so prevalent in the 1800s this is why men and women practiced mental bleaching has I call it. They bleach true the use marriage, they marry some body of a lighter skin or give birth to a child of lighter complexion. This was a form of upward mobility, a step closer to whiteness. This mate or offspring would change their status, their color and hence their life. The woman in the star is part of a great number of women in Jamaica and a across the world who are subjecting themselves to beauty rituals such as bleaching. This is done to keep a breast in a world of white supremacy. To neglect these rituals to these women are to fall behind and to be loss in a sea of just another ugly, black woman with no hope or future.