Acceptance

I watched a documentary this weekend, titled SKIN on Netflix and I recommend you watch it as well. It addressed skin bleaching, something that is very popular amongst women in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. A staggering 77% of Nigerian women use skin lightening products, the world’s highest percentage. So many women think lighter skin is more attractive, and will give them an advantage when it comes to life partners, jobs or just an economic advantage above those that are of a darker complexion.

In most parts of Africa, light skinned women are considered beautiful and according to Shingi Mtero, a professor at Rhodes University, there’s still a premium on light skin. Whiteness is something thats many Africans aspire to, and light skin still has social capital.

Lightening creams damage the skin, with ingredients ranging from acidic compounds to chemicals like sulfur, arsenic and mercury. These products are harmful and can cause permanent damage. Despite knowing how harmful these products are, the need to feel “beautiful” and desirable surpasses all logic and facts.

The documentary promotes self love, and includes testimonies from men and women that have used skin lightening creams in the past and one thing they all had to say was how much they regretted having gone down that path. They also suggest that dark skin men and women need to start loving themselves, and not accept others’ perception of how beautiful they are. Self acceptance will equal self love!