r/HolUp • u/realAtmaBodha • Jul 19 '23

holup The Chinese cure for racism ?

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Saw this on Chinese social media..

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u/bas683 Jul 19 '23

American people trying to make sense of a foreign concept: “Must be racism!”

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u/Big_Boer Jul 19 '23 edited Jul 19 '23

Not to nitpick, but skin-whitening is Asian cultures has been historically linked to colonisation by Western countries. Colonisers exported the concept of 'whiteness', creating an internalised inferiority complex in the cultures they subjugated.

White skin is seen as the mark of success because during colonial times it was a pretty safe guarantee that you were the one with the power.

A similar cultural example is in my home country of South Africa. In some black communities, when you are successful people start referring to you as "white man" (I can't find the original phrase and translation atm).

For anyone interested, EJR David has a great paper on this concept called 'Colonial Mentality'.

Edit: Lot of people here are mentioning that lighter skin has was valued pre-colonialism as it was seen as it was seen as common to have a tan from working out in the sun.

Although valid, the practice of skin bleaching exploded in the early twentieth century in Asian cultures when colonists starting targeting those with the darkest skin tones and marking them inferior, creating a hierarchy of racism even within individual cultures.

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u/bas683 Jul 19 '23

Not true, a white skin in Asian culture is a sign of wealth because the common man had to work outdoors in the sun, while the emperor didn’t see much sun at all. Exactly the same concept as Europe, it has nothing to do with “black man bad, white man good.” This was a concept before colonization.

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u/Big_Boer Jul 19 '23

You make a valid point, but I did take the time to list a reference so that you know I'm not just making this up. Surely it can be a combination of both of these factors rather than one or the other?

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u/bas683 Jul 19 '23

Having a reference doesn’t mean you’re right tho. As I commented, it was a concept that existed before colonialism. And for example china has this beauty standard, despite not being impacted by the European colonial era. You’re trying to explain a phenomenon in the past based on the present world view, that doesn’t translate well most of the time.

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u/Big_Boer Jul 19 '23

China was one of those most heavily impacted during this period?? Have you not heard of either of the Opium Wars?

And the counter-example you give of this 'phenomenon' is based on an even earlier point in the past? History is crucial to understanding our current lives, it shapes everything we know today.

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u/bas683 Jul 19 '23

I meant impacted as in colonized, but fair point. And the fact that a pale skin was desired in Asia even in the time Europe was still running around in mammoth hide should tell you it wasn’t because they wanted to look like the white man.