Why do white people tan?

[inf1nity]

As someone who is not white, I find this intriguing. Beauty standards across the world suggest that fair-skinned people are usually seen as more attractive around majority of the world. This includes both men and women. However, a lot of white people actually spend time, money and effort, visiting tanning salons and darkening their skins on purpose.

Why do you guys do this?

P.S.- Another thing I've noticed, AFAIK it is only white people in the western world who do this. Eastern Europeans and Russians etc are also "white" but they do not tan. So, is it a cultural thing?

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I don't tan. I don't think I'm physically capable of tanning. You just pay too much attention to Italians and other delusional pseudo-white individuals.

They do it because of unrealistic beauty standards and melanin-privilege, btw. Non-white people don't know the suffering that individuals of Scots-Irish and Scandinavian descent have to go through.

 

[brainhulk]

To preempt squamous cell carcinoma

 

[Red Squirrel]

Some people still want to have a bit of a tan and not be super white. Personally I don't care. Pretty sure the amount of UV neon tubes it would take to give me a tan would also be enough to give me cancer, if it does not just pop the main breaker of the building.

I only sun burn, I don't tan.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think a lot of people think there's a healthy glow from a decent tan that is aesthetically pleasing, plus it indicates time spent enjoying outdoors.

Now, why do some people do tanning beds so much, I don't know. A lot of them I don't think realize the damage they do to their skin. Yes, some do it to build a base before sunny seasons start so as to limit sunburns and the like, and that's fine, but a lot of them way overdo it.

 

[inf1nity]

I don't tan. I don't think I'm physically capable of tanning. You just pay too much attention to Italians and other delusional pseudo-white individuals.

Not Italians, I am talking about Americans who tan. What do you mean "not physically capable of tanning"?

They do it because of unrealistic beauty standards.

What unrealistic beauty standards? I thought beauty standards in the west considered whites as more attractive.

melanin-privilege

What?

 

[phucheneh]

A mild tan helps hide skin blemishes.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Not Italians, I am talking about Americans who tan. What do you mean "not physically capable of tanning"?

What unrealistic beauty standards? I thought beauty standards in the west considered whites as more attractive.

What?

America was invaded by Italians and other immigrants. Those of Anglo-Saxon descent are the only true Americans. Whites are more desired by foreigners, but not locals. Pale skin is seen as weak and sickly, not beautiful. I sunburn easily and therefore it is unrealistic of society to expect me to expose myself to increased risk of skin cancer just to be considered attractive. Naturally darker people don't have to worry about this.

 

[Imp]

Redheads don't tan... they also have a much higher risk of the cancerz.

Otherwise, tanning is a nice reminder that you are effing up your skin. I have seen people in their late-20s with skin of 50 year olds -- one always bragged about being outdoorsy and going for a tan.

 

[darkswordsman17]

America was invaded by Italians and other immigrants. Those of Anglo-Saxon descent are the only true Americans. Whites are more desired by foreigners, but not locals. Pale skin is seen as weak and sickly, not beautiful. I sunburn easily and therefore it is unrealistic of society to expect me to expose myself to increased risk of skin cancer just to be considered attractive. Naturally darker people don't have to worry about this.

What?!?

Yeah pale skin is seen as unhealthy. It's not that long ago that even white people felt it was more attractive, but these days it's really dependent on the person. Women can get away with it more (porcelain skin), but a lot don't find it attractive.

Unfortunately this is one of those things that has been in transition and has ties to too much stuff like racism. All I know is that personally, skin color isn't that big of a deal, it can affect the overall "attractiveness" of a person, but to me it's just part of the whole. Also, I know I personally feel a bit healthier with a tan. When I was younger I used to be able to get a deep tan, but now I burn way too much so I don't try to leave a lot of exposed skin, but even a light tan helps me feel better.

 

[Nograts]

Why?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maillard_reaction

 

[Red Squirrel]

Redheads don't tan... they also have a much higher risk of the cancerz.

Can confirm.

not that we get much sun here, but when we do I avoid being in it for more than 15 minutes at a time. If I go to the beach and take off my shirt, I can probably be seen from the ISS.

 

[tcsenter]

Europeans don't go to the beach(es) during the summer?

 

[Dari]

The grass is always greener on the other side...

But, up until a thousand years ago, someone who was black was most likely seen as more beautiful. Swarthy this, swarthy that, being black was the thing when dark-skinned people were conquering the known world. From Herodotus to Shakespeare the black man was seen as the most beautiful person on earth. Also, most religious text came from lands where blacks dominated. Whether it was India or Africa. Now, not so much.

 

[MarkXIX]

Reminds me of my adopted daughter who is medium brown complexion. One day when she was about 6 years old I noticed her outside on the deck getting some sun. I asked her why she was doing it and she said "I want to be the same color as you and mom". She mistakenly thought that if white people got dark then dark people must get light from the sun.

Recently though my biological son and daughter had a discussion with me on this topic as well. My youngest daughter is lilly white like me and my son is olive complexion (my wife is Hispanic but with a lighter complexion). My son saw the DirecTV commercial with muscle head Rob Lowe getting into a tanning bed and asked why people do that. I said, "Because some people want to have darker skin because they think it makes them look better." That answer was good for my son, but my lilly white daughter said, "So they want to be the color of bacon and get cancer then? Got it." For 8 years old, she sure has dad's sarcasm nailed!

 

[Mixolydian]

I can't tan at all. I'm white as a ghost. :\

 

[WaTaGuMp]

A darker skin tone is much more appealing to me over white as a ghost.

 

[brainhulk]

I can't tan at all. I'm white as a ghost. :\

Spray tan

 

[MarkXIX]

A darker skin tone is much more appealing to me over white as a ghost.

That's racist! :awe:

 

[ghost recon88]

White as a ghost means they aren't active, or don't get outdoors much. Both of which are not attractive to me in the slightest. A nice golden bronze without going overboard would tend to indicate the person enjoys the outdoors and doesn't spend all their time inside reading or watching TV.

 

[mmntech]

Tanning is actually a fairly recent trend for white Europeans. Off the top of my head, I'd say late 1800s.

Prior to that, only working class people had tanned skin. Upper crust ladies wanted to look pale because that showed they didn't have to work and could afford the luxury to be indoors all day. White powder makeup was commonly used to achieve that affect. An unfortunate side affect was a lot of early cosmetics contained heavy metals like lead.

Around the turn of the 20th century, industrialization led to a growing middle class and increased leisure time. Western society was also in the middle of a big fitness and health craze.

These Nouveau Riche preferred to spend their free time outdoors. By contrast, industrialization had taken the lower class out of the fields and into dark, dingy factories. So you see this 180 degree turn in beauty standards. Pale meant you were a poor, sickly factory worker. A golden tan meant you were a person of health and leisure.

Also, not all white people tan very well. Especially the farther north you go. It's an evolutionary thing. With less sunlight at northern latitudes, the skin needs to be able to collect as much as possible to manufacture enough Vitamin D. Plus there's less of the harmful solar radiation, hence less need for melanin.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Because MOST people care way too much about what other people say/think about them.

Personally, sitting in the sun and baking is not my idea of fun (quite opposite).

And I care 0 about what people think about me......absolutely 0.

 

[Mixolydian]

And I care 0 about what people think about me......absolutely 0.

Yeah, we noticed...

 

[BurnItDwn]

It can provide a small bit of protection from getting burned.

So, if you spend a bit of time out in the sun day after day, you will build up a bit of built in protection from the sun. However, the tan provides like SPF4 or less, and it can increase risk of cancers, so, best to just wear sunblock for any prolonged sun exposure and to not intentionally get tan.

Some people tan because they think they look better tan.

 

[brainhulk]