Are they flip sides of the same coin or do you consider one worse than the other?
Re: Self tanning & skin lightening
Skin lightening is worse because the negative attitude that comes with it is terrible. I mean if a girl doesn't tan then her pasty ass might get a few mean girls level taunts at school but in the real world when it comes to marriage, family, office it won't matter at all. Darker girls who want to have lighter skin are being pressured by more than just slight vanity. They're made to feel invisible and less attractive by society.
And it's more difficult to lighten up than to tan so it's more elusive and hence more desirable.
Re: Self tanning & skin lightening
I think it is two sides of the same coin. Not everyone who chooses to tan or lighten their skin does it because "society is pressuring them" or making them feel bad about themselves. I also disagree that society as a whole makes darker girls feel invisible. Rihanna, Cheryl Cole, and Lupita Nyong'o are hardly invisible. In my observation, it is only a very small minority that still hold the view that dark skin is unattractive.
As unpalatable as this may sound, some people just prefer certain looks over others, be it tan or light skin. People will always want to experiment and add or change something about their appearance. Personally, I think it is the same as dying your hair, getting lash extensions, or experimenting with makeup looks.
Re: Self tanning & skin lightening
Depends on the environment. But basically, its altering your appearance based on societal expectations. So same thing.
Re: Self tanning & skin lightening
I think it is two sides of the same coin. Not everyone who chooses to tan or lighten their skin does it because "society is pressuring them" or making them feel bad about themselves. I also disagree that society as a whole makes darker girls feel invisible. Rihanna, Cheryl Cole, and Lupita Nyong'o are hardly invisible. In my observation, it is only a very small minority that still hold the view that dark skin is unattractive.
I was talking about Pakistan and nowhere else. We neither have black nor white people. We're all brown so when people are being cherry picked for some kind of media representation guess who gets chosen first. You'd think we were Sweden by how you can't find makeup deeper than certain shade.