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White Washed

In elementary school, it's guaranteed that the environment you're around at school will

shape the way you view yourself. If you’re surrounded by kids who are similar in looks and

behavior then obviously you would try to adapt in order to fit in. To do this you either have to

change your demeanor or your physical attributes, and for me I ended up changing both. At a

young age I never really had any confidence or passion for anything but the one thing I will

always remember was my need belong.

My first memories of school were attending North Creek Academy, a predominantly

white private school with barely any diversity. I always knew that I was different from the other

kids: my hair was different, my skin was different, and the way I acted was different. I felt all

alone in the school and uncomfortable in my own skin. What I saw in the mirror was not

beautiful and I absolutely hated it. I resented my rich, golden chestnut curls, I loathed my radiant

caramel skin, and I detested my big, bronze eyes. I hated being African American.

“Why is your hair like that?” “Your skin is really strange” “How come you don’t brush

your hair, that's gross?” Ignorant questions like these crippled my spirit and caused me to

dispose myself of everything that made me divergent from my fellow classmates. I even

remember one child told me my skin was “dirty” and that I needed a shower. Now looking back,

I see that these kids didn’t mean any harm whatsoever, they simply did not know and neither did

I. So I decided that I would do whatever it takes to look like them, talk like them, and act like

them, be them.

I started straightening my hair at around the age of nine. I even tried to stay out of the sun

as much as possible so I wouldn't get darker than I already was. When I did wear my hair curly I

tried to keep its volume at a low by braiding it or putting an abnormal amount of product in. I

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didn’t think I was beautiful whatsoever. Straight, light colored hair, pallid skin, sapphire eyes,

these are the attributes that I defined as “beautiful”. Basically everything that I was not to me,

was what was most attractive. The common standard of beauty in all media, is mainly white

women. Therefore, it's incredibly hard to find black models embracing their own black qualities

which is heartbreaking. When everything you see tells you that your qualities are not what the

world sees as attractive, it makes you feel alone and ugly.

It’s quite ironic that I’m using past tense to describe my lack of assurance and inner

radiance. I keep using “didn’t” when in fact I still do. I still don’t like my hair, my nose, and my

skin. When I look in the mirror I’m still unhappy with what I see. My lack of confidence and

pride are clearly shown in my appearance. I regret not looking at my differences with admiration

and positivity. I regret not ignoring the naive comments. I regret creating a phony facade that

allowed me to conceal my true self. And I most definitely regret that I allowed myself to be

marginalized and white washed.

Reminiscing about my past and current disposition, I now see how much I have been

affected by these ridiculous ideals. Having a positive outlook on oneself is crucial to being happy

with who you are and how you look. The fact that I don’t have what I so desperately need, is

daunting. Due to this perspective it brought me to ask the question: How does society’s bias and

eurocentric beauty standards negatively impact the conscience of young African American

women?

As our generation further expands our use of media, the more effect it will have on

society. Media today is by far the most prominent form of influence for all ages of people. For

women, social media has a huge role in shaping how we see ourselves. The media basically

allows society to depict a set standard of beauty that should be considered a platform for us to

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perceive and analyze with awe. For women of color in particular, the lack of representation in the

media is both discouraging, unfair, and a form of corruption.When black women are represented,

their natural beauty is stripped away and whitewashed. Their hair is straightened or curled in

order to hide their frizz and their features are photoshopped to be more european. Magazines,

TV shows, and celebrities, are all forms of media that are dominated by white women and if

there are black women, they are all lighter skinned. In fact, according to a new report, 78.2% of

all the models featured in spring 2016’s fashion adverts were white. In a breakdown of the

statistics, 8.3% of models featured in ads were black, 4% were Asian and 3.8% were Hispanic

(Elan). When over three fourths of models are white, it is clear that there is something wrong our

standards of beauty. Lack of diversity leads to less confidence in the black community,

especially with little black girls. They have no one to look up to in terms of culture and beauty

except for white women. This critical-interpretive analysis of cultural dominance and cultural

identity explores how Eurocentric beauty paradigms impact black female identities (Bigelow).

Due to this, beauty industries need to implement more diversity into both their people and

products in order to boost social equity and promote black excellence.

For darker skinned women, finding confidence in themselves is even harder due to the

fact that a majority of black women who are represented are either lighter skinned or have more

eurocentric features. The concept of having straight hair, lighter skin, and light eyes has been

embedded into the minds of little girls of color. This awful image specifically targets young,

dark-skinned women. Lighter skinned females with longer hair reported social acceptance and

other forms of validation, resulting in higher levels of confidence, self-esteem, and individual

successes (“Dark Skin”). This is because they are closer to this idealistic representation of

attractiveness. Black women who are more fair skinned, lighter eyes, and less nappy hair are

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bound to be found more beautiful than that of a black woman who is the opposite. In an

interview with Sydney Davis, an American University freshman stated “Growing up in a

majority white neighborhood has made it extremely hard to love the color of my super dark skin.

I feel like my hair and skin are looked down upon or seen as ugly. I’m still learning to accept

how I look.” Davis, is one of many darkskin women that have been marginalized for how they

look. Inversely, darker skinned participants, particularly those with shorter hair, experienced

feelings of isolation, resulting in lowered self-esteem, some of which limited their social and

employment opportunities (Bryant). Susan L. Bryant is a renowned writer who wrote The Beauty

Ideal: The Effects of European Standards of Beauty on Black Women, an article that accentuates

the struggles of beauty among African American women. By feeling pressured by society to look

more white, many have turned to getting weaves or putting strong chemicals in their hair that

make it straight such as perming. Black hair is seen as a stigma in the United States, especially

when it comes to looking formal. In a 2011 survey taken by an organization called Black

American, nearly 48 percent of the African American women interviewed felt the need to

straighten their hair at work because they felt it looked more presentable (Tranchina). This

pessimistic attitude toward the hair and skin of the black community needs to by eradicated

immediately in order to create an environment where all hair and skin colored is accepted.

Adding on to the the list of negative impacts these standards furthermore produce more

profound kind of racism, and that is the unconscious kind. When society keeps supporting the

imputation of African women, the more it will be habituated into our generation to believe that it

is not beautiful. For years and years, people have slowly but surely created a social norm of

putting down black men and women. It all started during the days of slavery when white people

used African Americans as scapegoats for most of the problems all while taking advantage of our

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beauty. Much of historians' knowledge of these developments derives from observations by

white Americans whose vision was often clouded by prejudice (Brackman). Black differences

were shamed and seen as ugly and imperfect. As a whole we're still struggling under the scars of

slavery, and that the Civil Rights Movement did not work. The country is almost as divided as it

was before (Ashford). Racism is still a prominent aspect of America. Others doubt that it is true,

but are ignorant and blind to both subtle and obvious forms of it that have been incorporated into

everyday life and media. The manifestation of white beauty is just another form of white

supremacy of modern times (Winant). Cultural appropriation is an obtrusive from of white

insensitivity that is both offensive and ouraging. When a woman of color wears their hair in

traditional box braids or bantu knots it is not celebrated whatsoever. But when a white woman

wears her hair in box braids or bantu knots to a festival, it is seen as trend and fashionable. In an

interview with the Contra Costa County humanitarian of the year and student activist Sienna

Terry. She further explains the issues of cultural appropriation by stating:

“Black women have been attempting to turn white for decades to receive the tiniest bit of

respect from our white-counterparts, separating ourselves from our black culture, trying to act

and speak white, only for white people in the 21st century to profit off of acting black. Things,

that were called ghetto and shamed by white people for such a long time, are now high fashion.

Big lips, hoop earrings, braids, big butts, long acrylic nails, rap music.” As Terry declared the

concept of being “black”is now something that is considered by the media to be chic. The fact

that black beauty has received countless discrimination for years, and yet now white people take

it as their own without giving any account for the culture and history behind black hair.

In addition to the problems that black women face throughout their lifetimes, women in

general need to be supportive and celebrate naturalness. It has been habituated for all women no

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matter what color, to feel the need to hide behind makeup. Writer Susan L. Bryant explains that

using a social work lens, this article explores the black woman’s internalization of European

beauty standards through family, peers, the media, and society, and the related outcomes of this

internalization on self-perception, academic achievement, sexual behavior, employment, marital

status, and mental health (Bryant). It is not fair to put girls through stupid requirements that

cripple mental health and true happiness. Seeing girls as young as seven with straightened hair is

heartbreaking. It demonstrates the effect that society has on making black people feel the need to

look a certain way in order to be accepted. The media can cause body dissatisfaction, low self-

esteem, and disordered eating. When girls compare their bodies to what is seen in the media, it

increases their chance of having a poor body image (Media Today). Naturalness of all colors and

shapes needs to be taught to all girls at a young age in order to prevent a social bias. Being “too

dark” or having “kinky hair” should not be problems that young african women should have to

face. As described by author Joan Morgan, “As long as inequality and oppression remain

constants in our lives, sistahood is critical to our mutual survival (231).

The beautiful city of Oakland is rich with power and influence. It is a city that allows

anyone to absorb black culture. Walking down the street an abnormal and chilling tension filled

the air. The rambunctious noise of Bart trains and the distressed police sirens ringing in the ears

of all who heard. Bizzare symbols and sayings painted on almost every wall, run down building,

and cement structure. Homeless and poverty stricken people wandering around the area and

gathering in clusters. People of color parade through the city, living their hardship filled lives.

The beautiful brown faces of men, women, and children with mellow happiness yet with a slight

glimmer of melancholy. Oakland is a city with one of the richest backgrounds of black history,

excellence, and hardship. The vast diversity of black faces, yet it is apparent at the same time

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seeing the struggles they go through everyday. Exploring around you could feel the tension of

eyes watching and judging from afar and feel the sense of culture and acclaimed pride

Many assumptions have been made about how and why the beauty industry is so bias

towards African Americans. No matter how you look at it, the root of the problem always seems

to be racism. Whether it is the beauty industry, sports industry, poverty, or education, the

inequality in these topics stems from structural and institutional racism.As Americans we are

raised to believe that we are all born equal. We have equal opportunities, representation, and

have equal opportunity to move up the economic ladder. This is a poisonous misconception that

leads to more and moe ignorance in our generation. The truth is, we are not all equal, we are not

all represented, and we do not have equal opportunities. In a study conducted by the Pew

Research Center Survey their statistics say that overall, 58% of Americans say racism is a big

problem in our society today( "Discrimination.").Fifty-eight percent of our countries population

comes out to be an overwhelming 168 million people. The only solution that we have in solving

the issues of inequality in all forms is to fix racism itself. The key to solving this ongoing

problem lies within the minds of our generation, and future generations. Children’s brains absorb

information like a sponge. By age 4, for instance, the cortex begins operating at adult activity

levels. By 4, a child's brain is more than twice as active as an adult's (Jaffe). Teaching children

the tolerance and acceptance needed to attack the evils of racism would tremendously affect

society as a whole. It would destroy the social construct of racism by developing an environment

that acknowledges all races as equal in all ways. By teaching the next generation, they will know

that representation in all forms matters. As said by the famous South American President Nelson

Mandela, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his

background or his religion. People learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught

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to love for love comes more naturally to human heart than its opposite.” Like Mandela

explained, racism is not something one is born with. It is developed over time throughout

constant conditioning and habituation. Elucidating racism would fix the issues that we currently

have in the beauty industry.

One of the discoveries that came up during my research was the fact that black women

(especially darkerskins) go through to much over beauty. Pressing White standards in beauty and

all other aspects must be abolished. Society needs a wake up call in order to further progress and

allow for equity and social stigmatization to be eliminated. The fact that eurocentric beauty

standards are prevalent in our minds is disgusting. Little black girls should not ever have to feel

pressured to look more white in order to be beautiful. We need more representation. We need to

abolish prejudice and racism. We need to liquidate beauty standards. We need to encourage

black excellence. The obvious white appearance standards impact black women to lose their

sense naturalness, have a lack of confidence, and making them feel as if their beauty is not

celebrated nor appreciated. Seeing countless articles, books, and websites explaining this issue is

truly heartbreaking. Factors such as bias, institutional racism, and white supremacy have affected

our society dreadfully. As a whole with the help of media we have slowly habituated black

women into believing that they are not attractive. I am not the only woman of color to feel so

negatively about my hair, skintone, and features. So many are suffering immensely both

emotionally and mentally because society does not represent us as beautiful.

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Work Cited

Ashford, Tomeiko R. "Gloria Naylor on Black Spirituality: An Interview." Gale Student

Resources in Context, Gale, 2007. Student Resources in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2181701344/SUIC?u=wal55317&xid=af85fe61.

Accessed 15 Feb. 2018.

Bigelow, Barbara C. "African Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America,

edited by Thomas Riggs, 3rd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2014, pp. 31-59. Student Resources in

Context,

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Accessed 15 Feb. 2018.

Brackman, Harold. "African Americans." Encyclopedia of American Cultural and

Intellectual History, edited by Mary Kupiec Cayton and Peter W. Williams, Charles

Scribner's Sons, 2001. Student Resources in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/BT2350030072/SUIC?u=wal55317&xid=3d45ce0d.

Accessed 15 Feb. 2018

Bryant, Susan L. “The Beauty Ideal: The Effects of European Standards of Beauty on Black

Women.” Columbia Social Work Review, Center for Research and Digital Scholarship,

Columbia University, 4 Apr. 2013, cswr.columbia.edu/article/the-beauty-ideal-the-

effects-of-european-standards-of-beauty-on-black-women/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

“Dark Skin Vs: Light Skin: The Battle of Colorism In The Black Community.” The Odyssey

Online, 13 Nov. 2017, www.theodysseyonline.com/dark-skin-light-skin-battle-colorism-

community. Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

Davis, Sydney. Email Interview. 27 February, 2018.

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"Discrimination." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2018. Student Resources In

Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2181500079/SUIC?u=wal55317&sid=SUIC&xid=

4e50c274. Accessed 21 Apr. 2018.

Elan, Priya. “Survey Finds That 78% of Models in Fashion Adverts Are White.” The

Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 10 May 2016,

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/may/10/survey-finds-that-78-of-models-in-fashion-

adverts-are-white. Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

Jaffe, Andrew E., et al. "Developmental regulation of human cortex transcription and its

clinical relevance at single base resolution." Nature Neuroscience, vol. 18, no. 1, 2015, p.

154+. Science In Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A397265624/SCIC?u=wal55317&sid=SCIC&xid=82

7cf2d1. Accessed 21 Apr. 2018.

“Media Today : Unattainable Beauty Standards.” Girls Empowerment Network,

girlsempowermentnetwork.org/blog/media-today-unattainable-beauty-standards/.

Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

Morgan, Joan. When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: a Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks It

Down. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2017.

Terry, Sienne. Personal Interview. 3 March, 2018.

Tranchina, Gabriella, et al. “Eurocentric Beauty Standards: A Global Disease.” Germ

Magazine, 26 July 2015, www.germmagazine.com/eurocentric-beauty-standards-a-

global-disease/.Establishment, . Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

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Wade. Lisa “When Whiteness Is the Standard of Beauty - Sociological Images.”Sociological

Images When Whiteness Is the Standard of Beauty Comments, 26 Mar. 2017,

thesocietypages.org/socimages/2014/05/16/white-as-beautiful-black-as-white/. Accessed

11 Mar. 2018.

Winant, Howard. "Race and Racism: Overview." New Dictionary of the History of Ideas,

edited by Maryanne Cline Horowitz, vol. 5, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005, pp. 1987-

1989. Student Resources in Context,

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