How Tanning Reinforces Problematic Beauty Ideals

Ah, summer. The season for long days, sweltering heat, and cookouts. And white people blather that if they are out long enough in the sun, they can be as tan as any Black person. Or who fret that they resemble lobsters because their pasty complexions cannot handle the sun. No, I do not consider such ridiculous musings compliments. A pastime that white people consider harmless is highly complicated for me. <h1>Tanning Is Complicated If You Aren’t White</h1> As someone reared in a predominantly white neighborhood, every summer without fail, I contended with at least one white kid who proclaimed that they looked like me with their tan and at least one other white kid who lamented their ghostly, pale complexion and wished they could tan. Don’t get me started on those white people who frequent tanning salons. From my vantage point, it’s insane how much they’re willing to pay to cook and submerge themselves with harmful chemicals in the hopes that they end up two shades lighter than my Beyonce shade of Black. Throughout my life, I’ve known other Black people as well as other people of color who were taught to regard the sun as an enemy. They were told to stay out of the sun so that they wouldn’t get “too dark.” To this day, some BIPOC, particularly women, buy skin-bleaching creams in the hope that their skin will appear lighter. Summer for these folx could not be the carefree season that other people enjoyed because their skin color was regarded as a curse. <a href="https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/how-tanning-reinforces-problematic-beauty-ideals-97dd354e813d">Read More</a>