A Need for a Shift in the Standard of Beauty; But First We Need to Unpack the Harmfulness of Colorism

Abstract

The effects of colorism can be long-term which the person who's of darker skin can feel their entire life. Dark skin black women are usually the ones who are consistently dealing with trying to fit into the European standard of beauty. With that comes the ideals of self-perception. How do you perceive yourself while trying to appeal to a standard that does not cater to your race or your skin tone? This can be very harmful to someone's confidence. The idea of double consciousness is "the two-ness of being an American and African American". This intertwines with being a dark skin black woman who not only deals with racism from other races but colorism from Black men and women alike.