Whiter Skin, Pinker Nipples

It's no secret that white skin is THE beauty standard in Asia. People here carry umbrellas to shield them from the sunshine, just as they did in China. And even on the most sweltering day you can see field workers wearing long sleeves and pants and full head covering. Yes, it's good to prevent skin cancer but the hysteria surrounding dark skin really gets to me sometimes. Skin whiteners are the norm in most beauty products. Oh, you want deoderant? Well it's impossible to find a brand that doesn't contain whitener. I don't know about you, but I don't tend to get tan in my armpits (they're hardly ever exposed). People frequently come up to me and put their arm next to mine to compare: "Oh you are very white and beautiful. I'm black." I want to say that most people in America think the Asian complexion is beautiful. I want to say that they have gorgeous skin but no one ever wants to listen. Outdoor activities are shunned during the daytime and often you can see women slathered in conspicuous white powder. I know that fairness has long been a beauty standard. It symbolizes privelege...not having to work in the fields and do manual labor. Yet it becomes something else entirely when it's taken to the point of physical alteration. And nowadays, you need more that white skin to be beautiful in Thailand. The newest rage is "pink nipple cream." The box states that you can get rid of "unsightly brown nipples" by applying this cream which will bring "a delicious pink color" to the nipples. WTF? I just can't imagine how weird people are going to look....dark skin and neon pink nipples. Very sexy. Meanwhile people in the states flock to get a tan. What a crazy world!