this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2024
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[–] doctorcrimson@lemmy.world 64 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (26 children)

Idk how the general public viewed India 40 years ago, but from my vague understanding of their modern history they've always been known for a cruel caste system resulting in poverty and disease, which was massaged by the English introducing more widespread transportation and education but castes and disparity still persists after several revolutions. Don't get me wrong, the English were cruel and apathetic, but clearly the locals learned a lot from them in good and bad ways both.

I recently learned about CPI parties of India but they also ingrain religion into their politics? That sounds like one step forward two steps back. I'd love to see more Indian politics and international news in the news and politics communities on Lemmy, sounds like a lot is going on over there and I'm getting real sick of hearing about Taylor Swift's jet and Biden's Cookies.

Oh and also, skin whitening cream is pretty fucked imo. I saw a story awhile back where a famous light skinned actress played an ethnic minority role where they blackfaced and lived in filth, clearly something is wrong there.

[–] Rediphile@lemmy.ca 31 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (25 children)

Skin whitening is not unlike tanning in the west, an indication of status/wealth. In India lighter skin shows you don't need to work outside. In the west tan skin shows you can take vacations.

And in both cases people fake it with creams and tanning salons. And it becomes so entrenched people don't realize why they are actually doing it. Just like makeup and clothing choices.

Yes, there are problematic racial undertones...and in general is definitely fucked up...but I think it's more complicated than just a race thing. I mean, people in the West are literally exposing themselves to cancer causing UV to fake the look of having recently taken a trip to Hawaii or whatever, which is also kinda fucked up.

[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Pretty sure lighter complexion in non-white countries is status symbol in the same way tanning is among white Westerners. You don't need to work outside means you are affluent enough not to do so. Getting tanned means you are also affluent enough to go on holidays abroad to somewhere exotic.

Before the European colonisation in non-white majority countries, light skin has always been seen as status symbol. The racial aspect came later upon Western colonialism.

[–] Rediphile@lemmy.ca 3 points 10 months ago

Yes, that's exactly what I said.

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