How colonialism influences our 'type' - BBC REEL

The place and society you grew up in plays a key role in our perception of beauty, since the very ideas surrounding beauty are culturally influenced.

In this final episode, Griesham Taan explores the lasting impact of colonialism and Eurocentric beauty ideals on the world and what the future of beauty may look like.

Video by Griesham Taan
Animator: Jessica Thomas

#bbcreel #bbc #bbcnews

[Fahrenheit]

We all know our Prophet (ﷺ) said in his Farewell Sermon, ​“You are all from Adam, and Adam is from dust. There is no virtue for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for a white person over a black person, nor for a black person over a white person, except by righteousness” [at-Tirmidhi].

[daffidkane]

I appreciate that the narrator said “influenced” not “determined” by culture. When it suites intellectuals and ideologues it’s all about biology and at other times it’s all about culture. In the 20th century beauty standards for white women have waxed and waned. Sophia Lauren versus Kate Moss. Like so many things it’s complex and nuanced.

[FrshJurassicPrnceYA]

I was never convinced by that theory that colorism came from the concept of outdoor/indoor lifestyles influencing skin-tone. Areas in the world with intense colorism are areas that were invaded by lighter-skinned people who imposed their own beauty standards on the conquered. This would explain why regions with minimal foreign invasions still preserve a distinct beauty standard unique to that place.

[anderssvensk]

I really don't care about skin color or origin. It's a matter of personality and self confidence. If a girl is beautiful or not It's a matter of many factors like charisma, eye size, the smile and so forth. 😊

[ulviyyaalizade]

The people's perception of beauty standards is often flip-flopping. They spend much more money to be able to reach beauty standards, and I firmly believe that they are affected by influencers, public figures, etc. But at the end of the day, only one person will be lucky. They will be cautious people.

[amalianurlatifah]

I have 2 daughters, my 1st is dark skin & curly afro hair, while my 2nd is light skin & wavy hair.. they both actualy has similiar "face line", but because of their diff skin colour, people tend to treat them diff too 🥲🥲🥲 as a mother, this situation truly saden me..

[themagicbanjoman]

I guess the BBC doesn't think men can be beautiful.

[alosyus]

I never thought that any ethnicity is more beautiful than another. Afro, Asian, Western, Indians, mixed, blond, brown, black, redhead.... There is beauty everywhere !

[ltlbuddha]

OK. So studies have shown that there are biological factors in some beauty preferences. Cultural standards often overpower those, but some exist. And whilst I do support more inclusive beauty standards, I doubt that they will ever be all-inclusive. Humans tend towards groups and the tension between novelty and conformity will continue to create "in" standards.

[Zmiana_Pogody]

I'm European, Polish. When I travelled to Columbia (South. Am.) 10 yrs ago I remember looking at Latino people and thinking "It's such a pity you implemented to your heads that whiter skin people are more attractive. Y'all exceptionally stunningly beautifull, people! Whatever shade your skin goes!" I bet I would think the same in India... I'm glad things sterted to change slowely.

....Maybe one day I will accept myself too 🤣🤣🤣

[LVXMagick]

Being happy makes you beautiful, but being beautiful doesn't make people happy. So it's best to try for happiness.

[justDave]

Why were virtually all the images female?

[angelinimartini]

I definitely understand from my own personal experience growing up, the whole whiter and euro centric looks being pushed on me. Grandma bought me Crema De Concha nacar to whiten my skin. My aunts were fairly white with blue and green eyes. My mom is kind of Mediterranean white with olive eyes. I am tan with brown eyes and my grandma worried about how things would be for me if I was not white. Growing up though, after high school, I remember actually seeing Asians from like China, Korea, Japan, Philippines… and I was in love. That beauty, which I didn’t grow up seeing, was like my ideal. But the only reason I’m adding this part is because my dad, who I never met, turns out he was really into that region of Asians too… looks like he lived in HK for years and that was just his type. I’m thinking, what I find beautiful, was genetically predetermined.

[andrewweaver]

I dated a girl that was mistaken for Molly Ringwald multiple times. I gotta say, it definitely went a long way with me. Still have dreams about her.

[ConnoisseurOfExistence]

I find all healthy women of appropriate age attractive. With that said, I always thought overly white skin does not look particularly healthy. I'm not saying white people aren't attractive (I'm white), but some who don't have enough sun exposure look to me that something is missing in their look. And I've felt that instinctively since a kid, it's not like I've adopted this view based on cultural biases.

[Celeste-in-Oz]

everyone interviewed on this is gorgeous - wtf. The one thing that will never be accepted in my lifetime (probably ever) is ageing and that really sucks

[josearaujo]

Fair skin has always been a standard of beauty even before societies were exposed to western civilization because of the simple fact that higher classes didn't work in the elements so all higher classes richer people in all societies were white in comparison.
Its not about racial discrimination its about economic discrimination.

Not all western white people are beautiful, so what gives...

[neon-kitty]

Saying that the tanning fads of the 20th and early 21st century were the result of colonialism isn't really accurate. You may today find people who tan in an attempt to look more "exotic" or "ethnic" but that's not how or why it first came about, which was mainly linked to a) doctors ascribing a whole host of health benefits to sunlight exposure (both real and imaginary) leading to the association of pale skin with ill health and b) the lifestyle shifts among different social classes (where previously working class people mainly laboured outdoors, a lot of them now worked indoors and it became a sign of wealth to show that you could afford to go on vacations to warmer climates and lounge around at sunny beaches all day).

[practicalknowledgeyt]

You have uploaded the same video as before.

[buddhistpath]

Yup media manipulation and influence is very true on perception and desirability for that race/ethncity in society. Years ago pre-1950s black men were hardly shown in positive light especially in beauty industry now they are overtly promoted to the top in all popular cultural area's. Whereas other male non-white races and ethnicities have yet to get that recognication and positive overt mainstream attention. We are still watching and waiting for that day.