The Relationship of Physical Attractiveness and Similarity of Preferences to Peer Affiliation Among Black Children

Abstract

The concept of physical attractiveness has had an interesting evolution in the black community. A number of studies have demonstrated that, in the past, standards of physical attractiveness for blacks were mainly derived from white perceptions of physical beauty.1 Evaluating themselves against the American ideal of attractiveness, blacks often attempted to beautify themselves by imitating whites.2 The late 1960s marked the advent of the Pride Movement, and with it came a quest for black identity. Along with slogans of Black is Beautiful, and and I'm Proud, came dashikis, afros, braided hairstyles, and the look. More specifically, the movement marked a rejection by blacks of typically white beauty standards.3 The changing attitudes toward beauty were evidenced by darkskinned girls with natural hairstyles winning both commercial and college beauty titles. This was a departure from the lightskinned, long straight haired, Caucasian featured winners of previous decades.4