Why do many japanese want to have white skin?

[Ryuuchan]

No burns? Yuna I'm so jealous! *angst* I mean Ive got sun lotion of 30 with uva & uvb & sand & water.. whatever, you know what I mean, those.. thingies.. but it doesnt really help for face every time.. Guess I should just put it on more often but I hate it since the staffs too sticky even when new. Should lock up in the cellar for sunny days or something? xD yeah, I know I may sound a bit (or more) stupid..

[Suki]

Originally Posted by xYinniex

Historically, it was down to class differences, but now it's just people knowing that they look better with paler skin.

Yeah. Back in the day, having uber pale skin meant you didn't do work outdoors and came from an upper-class lineage. Now it's the exact opposite, having a nice, natural tan means you have time to sunbathe because you're rich and don't need to work over summer

[Graciie]

i like any
some months i get spraytans
other i stay as pale as a ghost
it really does change a look
but i think alot of things can suit any colour

[SeryousLe]

i dont know if this applies to Japanese too but in chinese culture fair/pale skin is kind of a good luck status....kind of like if you have pale skin you wont have health problems or any misfortunes. now i dont know wat the connection between pale skin and good luck is but this is wat i was told.

ofcourse there are other reasons which were mentioned xD

either way pale or dark its all skin~

[Hip]

Originally Posted by asouatiqah

usually white skin looks prettier than black.
but it depends..

black skin people wish to have white skin n
white skin people wish to have black skin...
this is weired but it is reality ^^"

I don't know why... but that struck me as rather racist O.o

I am irish pale and I don't really care for a tan...I don't ever desire having black skin either...

As far as black skin is concerned...If you mean black people "african americans" wanting to be white... o.o? wth? Every black person I know holds more respect for their color than the white people do...If you were to ever qoute that on the streets of Los Angeles or West Palm Beach...I don't think you'd leave alive...lol

And for those possible black "skin" people who might say they want white skin...it's only so they don't have to cope with the ongoing struggle and heartache they suffer everyday from stariotypes and racism that still exists today. Point is >.> it's not something you should really be quoting....

[Tenchu]

Om. I have seen some stupid replies here.

I can confirm the reason why Japanese and other SE Asian countries prefer white skin over tanned. I live in this reality daily.

I am married to a S Thai, that means she is a darker skinned Thai, as that is natural for people from the south of Thailand. It annoys the fuck out of me she refuses to swim at the beach with me because of the sun. Why? Thai people are racist.

Most Asians are racist, that is fact.

Having darker skin reflects the role in society you play. It is poor people that work outside for small money in rice fields in the sun all day and have tanned skin. Do you think a wealthy businessman is going to be comfortable eating out with his wife when her skin tells everyone "I married a farmers girl!" ??? No. He wants a fair skinned women who radiates wealth in that it is obvious she has never done a hard days work in her life. Same same, do you think the women like everyone to know they are poor and work a labor job when they go outside?

Someone said how fair and soft women are seemed to be sexy by them. That is true, this is the same thing, this is why.

This is a class structure thing, i.e. racism. And it annoys the fuck out of me. I am trying to get my wife as dark as possible just so a wealthy white man living in Asia can say "Fuck you, I married the farmers girl, you are racist" to everyone.

(My wife's father is a farmer, BTW).

[Tenchu]

Might I add, in saying that a lot of young Asian people, esp. Japanese, are changing this, slowly.

A lot of young people are born into wealthy families and get tanned from recreation; these people dont give a fuck about stupid cultural dementures. Even so, the trend remains dominant.

[KiraLife]

i think that they wants to be white, like people in the west..
it's not always us who is inspiret of Japan, many of the j-fashions comes from the west!

[Tenchu]

Originally Posted by KiraLife

i think that they wants to be white, like people in the west..
it's not always us who is inspiret of Japan, many of the j-fashions comes from the west!

You have the mind of a 5 year old. Do you really think mature adults wish they were anglo saxon, or do you think there is something else going on?

[emiluvsjmusic]

Originally Posted by KiraLife

i think that they wants to be white, like people in the west..
it's not always us who is inspiret of Japan, many of the j-fashions comes from the west!

there are people that like to keep their skin white but the reason isnt usually because they want to be western... there are health reasons as well

but on the other hand, there are heaps of people who either dont care about it or want tanned

which is the same with lots of other countries...