Bleaching in Jamaica: The Historical and Modern Motivations, Economic Costs, Mental Impact, and Physical Consequences

Bleaching in Jamaica: The Historical and Modern Motivations, Economic Costs, Mental Impact, and Physical Consequences

By Esther Claudette Gittens | Editorial credit: Alexander Izyumov / shutterstock.com  Skin bleaching, the practice of using chemical agents to lighten one’s skin, has emerged as a widespread phenomenon in Jamaica, with both men and women engaging in the practice. Skin bleaching is not a new concept—it has historical roots in the colonial period and […]

Women of color spend more than $8 billion on bleaching creams worldwide every year

Women of color spend more than $8 billion on bleaching creams worldwide every year

By Ronald Hall, The Conversation The idealization of light skin as the pinnacle of beauty affects self-esteem for women of color around the world. In many cultures, skin color is a social benchmark that is often used by people of color and whites alike in lieu of race. Attractiveness, marriageability, career opportunities and socioeconomic status […]