Fashion publications and other media are those responsible for praising certain features on women who are mostly white while not acknowledging (thinking its negative) minority women with those same features. White is already the standard of beauty. If you say its not, you are lying.
White is the standard for many things, mainly because there are more white people than anything else at the moment. From emoji's on phones to cards at Hallmark.
Historically, black women (black people, in general) have been mocked for their features, full lips, wide hips, big butts, and kinky or curly hair....all have been seen as negatives. But, I can pick up an issue of Teen vogue and see some bullshit article about how white girls are inspiring people to have fuller lips and bigger butts.
Historically people have been mocked for about everything you can think of. People with a 'southern twang'? Mocked for being stupid without any facts to back it up. But I see you're dwelling on the past, using 'historically'.
If all you took away from my statement was that white women are always praised for their looks...you're intentionally being obtuse. That's not what I said. I was speaking to a specific issue that is very real.
I understand the point of the video and what you're saying. I was replying to another who claimed that white women are praised for big lips and asses where black women have "disgusting comments" made about them. My response was that good and bad comments are made of each. I personally love big lips and ass on whatever color.
As Amandla explained in her video..its linked in the first page of this thread...which you obviously have not watched is that "Appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated but is deemed as high-fashion, cool or funny when the privileged take it for themselves". I think you're smart enough to comprehend that statement. Let me know if you still want to be obtuse.
As I said, I understand the point of it. I just think it is hypocritical viewpoint to have. Black women having blonde hair? A-ok, white women with dreads, equal to blackface. Seriously? C'mon now.
Skin bleaching is very dangerous for the skin. Many people do it because darker skin is seen as a negative in many countries. In Asia, there are so many cosmetic brands selling lightening cream. White skin is something Asians are very adamant about. It has become so pervasive in Asian culture that many of the models you will see in the media in Asian often have white skin. The pursuit of white beauty has also lead to a booming cosmetic surgery industry in Asia where women are often going under the knife to get features that are associated with white people.
Skin bleaching creams are also readily available across Africa, The Caribbean, and Brazil. People are bleaching their skin because lighter skin is deemed as beautiful and darker skin is not. I find it hilarious that you brought this up as an example of cultural appropriation when its actually a very sad example of how desperate people are to be more white/beautiful/attractive. Once again, the fashion industry and other media outlets are feeding into unhealthy images of what is beautiful and what is not. People are willing to put things that probably have carcinogens on their face just to be "better" looking.
....and there's also the fact that many brown skinned people who grace the covers of popular or high fashion publications often have their images photoshopped to give them lighter skin. You can find PLENTY of examples of that.
I brought it up because it is hypocritical. Nigeria has the highest percentage of women using bleach, at 77%. I have been there on multiple occasions as saw it first hand.
My whole point and how I feel, is that people have the freedom to wear whatever the hell they want when not intentionally making fun of a culture. Even then they do, but should expect backlash. In the video she wasn't doing anything disrespectful.
I understand the plight of different hairstyles. My wife currently has long braids down to her ass with about 7 dirty blonde strands mixed in. She was worried her boss wouldn't let her have it for work, but she didn't say anything. She was worried it would be to ghetto for work. My wife catches shit all the time for "acting white". Because she drives a Mercedes, carries a coach purse, drinks Starbucks, wears Northface, has a Masters and speaks properly. And it pisses me off. Because to
some people black people are supposed to be a certain way, and if not then they're being a traitor. In my experience it usually comes from the black side, not always. Black people will call others too dark, too light, too this, too that. There are songs about having the right or wrong skin tone. I know where it stems from, but we aren't there anymore. I catch it from time to time for what I wear too. Every race catches shit from different things they do/are. That's just facts.
Bottom line for me is, if a white person wants to wear dreads? Fine. I don't like it myself, but it's their choice. If a black person wants to have blonde hair? Fine. Straight hair? Fine. People need to loosen up, it's just fucking hair. Yes I see the 'big picture' of the debate. We don't live in the past though. If I had been the girl in the video I would have said go fuck yourself and been on my way.
