Understanding Attractiveness

The subject of Colour preference seems to attract a lot of strong emotion laden comments from a wide range of people from across the Country. ‘Racist’, ‘Slavish mentality’, ‘Casteist’, ‘Prejudiced’, are some of the many adjectives used by many to deride other people who, unlike themselves, they would like to think are colour conscious.

The implications of shades of complexion, whether fair or dark, have arisen from a bias that was based on an economic foundation. Over the ages, we seem to have forgotten this basis and now remember and react to only the conclusion resulting in mistaken attitudes. An error we need to understand and rectify and not permit it to further distort our views of the real issue. It is therefore now time to take a balanced and realistic look at this matter, for which we need to ask ourselves these questions.

Why do we Indians want to be fair and seek fair spouses? – ‘Tall, Fair and Handsome’. Does this show racist, slavish, Casteist etc. mindset, or is it a response because of a natural or evolutionary bias to what we culturally equate fairness with people who are not labourers and who can afford to not work in the sun? This bias existed from well before the invasion of the fair skinned and can thus hardly be called racist or slavish etc.

Why are the white skinned people of European descent keen on tanning themselves darker and go for Cosmetics that shade, blush and colour them? Suntan lotions and Tanning beds are greatly in demand there and of course – ‘Tall, Dark and Handsome’- is this because of a cultural bias towards those of them who are darker or is it that there too, the bias is against the labourer who cannot afford to take a holiday to sunnier climes? How come no one accuses them of racism or of bias, or of having attitude problems on this count? Perhaps this is because racism is clearly evident as a different problem there and at times is also, independent of skin colour.

When the whites prefer ‘dark’, to think that they mean ‘the darker, or even black, the better’ is as wrong as to think that some Indians are saying ‘the fairer, the better,’ when they show a preference for ‘fair’. I am sure it would be more appropriate to understand that all across the world people have a vision of what they deem as the standard of attractiveness and all of them strive to attain that standard. Everyone is seeking a Golden Mean’, away from representation of the labour class who denotes an economic life-style of hardship. Such skin colour preferences are thus seen as arising out of a purely economic basis. It is of course essential to understand that no person can hope to lighten their complexion to a shade lighter than their own sun-protected skin, without damaging their skin.

Could there also, be another basis for a preference for a fairer/better complexion? Natural selection in all living creatures inclines every creature to seek a mate who exhibits clear and visible signs of better health and physical fitness and a better ability to procreate or provide (wealth of any kind). Neuroscientist Vilayanur S. Ramachandran speculates that the answer to the quip “why do men prefer blondes” may have a biological basis to it: paler women more easily show signs of disease, while the darker complexion of swarthier women can better disguise their imperfections. More health infor-
mation allows a better choice of mate, and is therefore preferable. Ofcourse, better choice of mate implies better progeny, and overall, less burden or cost of ill health. Ofcourse, today cosmetics can easily confuse such signals.

Where fairness is not such a distinct variable, or in other species, then other attributes are seen to represent the desired genetic advantages in choice of a mate and are thus preferred.

In cultures where the colour of the skin is even today indicative of a life of hardship (whether sun darkened due to working in the sun’s glare, or pale due to lack of exposure to sunlight). Ofcourse, skin colour no longer reflects economic status and is more a conditioning than reality. On the other hand, clear complexion allows for easier assessment of health, naturally everyone only reacts to such indications in seeking better prospects as mates.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5