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Post by palaver on Oct 18, 2009 17:10:25 GMT -5
 Which one is male and which one is female? Fair Women, Dark Men: The Forgotten Roots of Racial PrejudiceNot only do differences in complexion aid gender recognition, they also seem to influence sexual preference. When a thousand American students were surveyed on their physical preferences in the opposite sex, 30% of the males versus 10% of the females disliked black skin. Conversely, 56% of the males versus 82% of the females disliked very light skin (Feinman & Gill 1978). This kind of female response is well known to the movie and advertising industries, as seen in the 'tall, dark and handsome' look of Hollywood film stars and the brown, ruddy hues of magazine poster boys playing soccer, savoring a cigarette, or putting on after-shave. Some filmmakers even use photo-enhancement to darken the complexions of their male actors (Sailer 1999).
Similar findings came up in a Japanese study where women spoke of skin color to distinguish between 'a beautiful man' and 'an attractive man.' The former had white skin and, though admired almost aesthetically, was seen as being effeminate. The latter had brown skin and was considered virile, dauntless, energetic and self-assertive (Wagatsuma 1967).
Blondes Have Deeper Roots
In his foreword to Fair Women, Dark Men, U. of Washington sociologist Pierre L. van den Berghe, author of one of my favorite books, The Ethnic Phenomenon, summarizes:
"Although virtually all cultures express a marked preference for fair female skin, even those with little or no exposure to European imperialism, and even those whose members are heavily pigmented, many are indifferent to male pigmentation or even prefer men to be darker."
Why men prefer fair-skinned maidens and women like dark, handsome strangersGentlemen do not just prefer blondes, but lighter-skinned women in general, a study has suggested.
Scientists looking into attractiveness in men and woman suggest that men from all races find fairer-skinned woman most alluring, while women are the polar opposite and favour darker, brooding men.
They said the attraction is driven by preferences based on moral assumptions.
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Post by Ganbare! on Oct 18, 2009 17:28:45 GMT -5
Very interesting, I was having the exact same discussion hours ago. My thesis is identical as yours, modern Western fashion and media industry fair skin promotion. However I was contradicted by the fact that fair skinned men (eg Nordics) tend to prefer brown haired, darker females.
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Post by palaver on Oct 18, 2009 17:45:31 GMT -5
^Actually, I dug into the topic because of the darker lead actors in Chinese and Japanese cinema--sometimes in Western film. Was it done to enhance the "fairness" of the lead actress or enhance their gender?
The last article pointed out that darker women are more "sexualized" in the fashion industry than fairer women, who are more conservatively dressed. For Nords, it may be that 'blonds are for making babies, where brunettes are for having fun'. I think the opposite is true in the U.S.
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Post by tifonito on Oct 19, 2009 0:10:31 GMT -5
Interesting. The funny thing is that I seem to have a thing for darker women. Fair skin is beautiful but I find brown skin more appealing.
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Post by jefe on Oct 27, 2009 7:49:17 GMT -5
I think darker men and fairer women seem to be a common theme across all ethnic groups and cultures.
For example, wealthier Mexican men tend to prefer fairer females -- when men have the means to choose women, they tend to prefer fairer ones -- a possible explanation why upper classes within the same ethnic group / cuture tend to have fairer skin. There seems to be a color code correlated with
Even in Hollywood for black male roles, they almost always have to find a female partner who is lighter.
Dark black females must almost never get the romantic female lead.
And I am not sure what males do when they fall in the light range for their particular ethnic group. What do white women see in blond, blue-eyed fair men?
This does not seem to explain cross-ethnic attraction. Apparently what attracts those people is a sense of boldness and adventure, which counteracts this phenomenon.
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Post by palaver on Oct 27, 2009 12:24:19 GMT -5
I'm wondering if the racism some parents display is the result of moral presumptions being wagered against a person's skin color--darker women being seen as more promiscuous and thus less suitable as wives.
Fair men tend to be more red than fair. Relative fairness is a result of testosterone not being able to reach and affect pigmentation near the surface of skin, which is why Asian women tend to be so fair. There is more tallow in their skin--unlike their blotchy European counterparts.
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Post by milkman's baby on Oct 27, 2009 13:21:51 GMT -5
And I am not sure what males do when they fall in the light range for their particular ethnic group. What do white women see in blond, blue-eyed fair men? Generally nothing. With the exception of women (could be of any race) who want their offspring to be as Nordic as possible, most women generally don't find blond men attractive. In primitive days, while we know blonde hair on a woman helped her get noticed the blond hair on a man was a negative trait. When hunting in the dark forest, his hair would stand out causing him to fall prey to predators more easily. This is why blond(e) hair became a feminine trait. Today, when a woman sees a man with pale skin and blond hair she probably subconsciously sees a weakling who wouldn't have been able to provide food and protection for the family in primitive times. The tall, dark, and handsome ideal was always part of history. Personally, I've seen a fair share (no pun intended) of blond, fair skinned men that I would call attractive. I've even crushed on some curly-haired men a few times (another feminine trait?). Don't think I find them generally any more or less desirable than darker men. However, I have yet to see a redheaded man I find remotely attractive. |
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Post by admin on Oct 27, 2009 13:27:35 GMT -5
I guess that explains why those "Get buff like Carrot Top" ads aren't working.
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Post by catgirl on Nov 26, 2009 18:20:13 GMT -5
I think men like blonde or lighter skinned women because its a "childish" trait and signifies youth = good reproductive ability, you know. Womens faces resemble the face of a child also Ive heard, the hairline and some features, softer.
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Post by Kalvien on Dec 3, 2009 2:21:54 GMT -5
hmm interesting. in japan, white-skinned man is considered beautiful. no wonder japanese woman have fetish for yaoi and beautiful man gay stories.
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buffyuna
Junior Member
The Tabasco Kid
Posts: 94
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Post by buffyuna on Dec 3, 2009 14:03:29 GMT -5
I didnt know it transgressed other races besides blacks. But now that I think about it, every cartoon (disney etc) always has a lighter girl paired with a darker guy.
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Post by TeeHee on Dec 3, 2009 20:17:48 GMT -5
But now that I think about it, every cartoon (disney etc) always has a lighter girl paired with a darker guy. Actually, there have been a few Disney interracial pairings between a lighter/blond male and darker female such as... Pocahontas and John Smith  Esmeralda and Phoebus  and the most recent one  disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/Granted, Prince Naveen may have some relatively darker features(i.e. not nordic-looking), but he's lighter compared to Princess Tiana, who's the first black Disney princess. This upcoming movie also so happens to be set in New Orleans(my original hometown). This'll be interesting. |
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Post by rob on Dec 5, 2009 11:28:04 GMT -5
But now that I think about it, every cartoon (disney etc) always has a lighter girl paired with a darker guy. Actually, there have been a few Disney interracial pairings between a lighter/blond male and darker female such as... Pocahontas and John Smith Esmeralda and Phoebus and the most recent one disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/Granted, Prince Naveen may have some relatively darker features(i.e. not nordic-looking), but he's lighter compared to Princess Tiana, who's the first black Disney princess. This upcoming movie also so happens to be set in New Orleans(my original hometown). This'll be interesting. I'm glad we've moved away from the 'exotic girl + white dude' protagonists. those new disney flicks are a breath of fresh air (Indian male lead - bobby jindal effect?). Cinderella, the musical (late 90s) also had a really cool pairing... Brandy and Paolo Montalban (Filipino)  |
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Post by milkman's baby on Dec 5, 2009 14:25:47 GMT -5
Cinderella, the musical (late 90s) also had a really cool pairing... Brandy and Paolo Montalban (Filipino) I bet his mother wasn't happy about that one.  |
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buffyuna
Junior Member
The Tabasco Kid
Posts: 94
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Post by buffyuna on Dec 5, 2009 15:17:07 GMT -5
But now that I think about it, every cartoon (disney etc) always has a lighter girl paired with a darker guy. Actually, there have been a few Disney interracial pairings between a lighter/blond male and darker female such as... Pocahontas and John Smith Esmeralda and Phoebus and the most recent one disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/Granted, Prince Naveen may have some relatively darker features(i.e. not nordic-looking), but he's lighter compared to Princess Tiana, who's the first black Disney princess. This upcoming movie also so happens to be set in New Orleans(my original hometown). This'll be interesting. I completely forgot about those. I wonder how that movie is gonna turn out tho. Its set in the pre-civil rights days, and I see that a couple of the main characters are white. Should be interesting indeed. |
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