Colourism: a global adolescent health concern.

Nadia Craddock,Phillippa C Diedrichs,Ncoza Dlova

doi:10.1097/mop.0000000000000638

Nadia Craddock, Phillippa C Diedrichs + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1097/mop.0000000000000638

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Abstract

Colourism, a form of prejudice and discrimination based solely upon skin colour, stands to jeopardize the physical health, wellbeing and life chances of adolescents of colour, globally. Research shows that adolescents can experience colourism at school and college, in the criminal justice system, at work and in the media they consume. It is therefore unsurprising that adolescents of colour often express a desire for lighter skin tones and/or are dissatisfied with their skin tone. Although research is scarce, some studies include older adolescents in their samples of skin-lightening product users. This is significant as the evidence is clear that the unmonitored use of skin-lightening products can be harmful to physical and psychological health, with evidence linking skin-lightening use to skin damage, kidney failure and depression. Although it is evident that colourism is central to the lives of adolescents of colour, more research is needed concerning the use of skin-lightening products among adolescents. Media literacy and critical race theory offer avenues in helping attenuate the harmful impact of colourism for adolescents of colour.

Highlights

Colorism is central to the lives of adolescents of color, globally [1]
Defined as the prejudicial or preferential treatment of an individual based solely on skin color [2], colorism typically privileges those with lighter skin tones and occurs both within and between racial groups [3]
Given the salience of skin color to body image, this review will draw upon body image literature to explore possible avenues to disrupt sociocultural pressures experienced by adolescents to aspire to lighter colored skin and engage in skin-lightening practices

Summary

Introduction

Colorism is central to the lives of adolescents of color, globally [1]. Defined as the prejudicial or preferential treatment of an individual based solely on skin color [2], colorism typically privileges those with lighter skin tones and occurs both within and between racial groups [3]. Media images of celebrities of color ( women) are frequently digitally lightened in beauty or fashion magazines and advertisements, and preference is commonly given to models with naturally lighter skin [6, 17]. Given than skin color is a salient part of cultural beauty ideals [31], this model might usefully explain how sociocultural pressures for lighter colored skin can lead to body dissatisfaction and subsequent harmful skin-lightening behavior among adolescents of color, through the internalization of appearance standards that privilege lighter skin and appearance comparisons with those of lighter colored skin [9].

Results

Conclusion