Quote:
Originally Posted by MMM
There are a lot of assumptions going on with this entire thread that I think that are based in something less than fact, but the Japanese history within Japan of the attractiveness of white skin has nothing to do with internalized racism. How could it when Japan was an island country with only one race when this tradition first arose?
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Internalized racism can also refer to the idea of "white features" being considered more beautiful. No, Japan doesn't have many more races - but that doesn't mean it's completely cut off from the world. Maybe many Japanese citizens haven't seen black people with their own eyes, but they DO see them - and they DO exist. They might see black people, or anyone with darker skin, portrayed on the TV or in movies. The way that many black people and darker skinned people are portrayed influences people's thoughts and ideas.
If all you see on TV are people with lighter skin, and shows and movies suggest that people with lighter skin are more beautiful than people with darker skin - then yes, you can fall victim to internalized racism. It doesn't matter where in the world you are. Media has a huge control over race relations. All you need is a TV.
And ESPECIALLY for something like fashion, where most models are going to be people with lighter skin because lighter skin is considered more beautiful - yeah, internalized racism is pretty prominent, no matter where you are.