The resistance to the the idea that children notice and judge skin colour from an early age can be astonishingly strong.
Why?
Do we still argue that children don't absorb gender stereotypes young? If a young child asked, 'I'm a girl, you're a boy, why?' would we pretend that the differences they see are in their imagination? (Not a conversation to have in a supermarket.)
It would be a hard to convince a child that gender differences don't matter bearing in mind the whole marketing industry focussed on those differences.
After all, the otherwise magical toystore Hamleys, in London's Regent Street, still promotes a 'girls floor' and a 'boys floor', in migraine-inducing pink and Superman blue, respectively. Little imagination's needed to work out what toys are where. If only they could be subversive and put the nail bar in the 'boys floor'. (Against gender stereotyping? See Pink Stinks.) It's also just as well I'm a feminist, because a black Barbie isn't really happening there either. Though, should my sanity run away, I could have purchased a Bratz doll - many skin colours, European features - where my daugher could learn the essential life skills of tidy nail polish and flattering mascara.
The significance of skin shade and colour, the hierarchies and prejudices, are likewise always evident. I'll be writing about popular culture in the future, but for now, did anyone else read the rather jaw-dropping interview with Nancy Dell'Olio, in last Sunday's 'Sunday Times Magazine'? The word 'spoof' came to mind.
'Since I was a little child... people have always looked at me, and not just because I'm beautiful; it's something else inside me. I know I'm fascinating. But I prefer the word charisma to beauty...' As my daughter says - 'Oh, my!'
I came to (no, I didn't faint from laughing) :- 'I'm privileged to have good skin. It's not olive, you know, it's rose and very delicate'.
Later Nancy talks about her great intelligence and kindness. Sadly, self awareness doesn't seem to be among her many self-advertised attributes. The notion that light skin is better is especially tiresome and damaging to children who have to suffer the impact of historical prejudices that many adults feel unable to challenge or indeed, may actively promote. (Seen the advert for skin lightening for Asian skins on the back of London buses?)
It is about time that we adults, parents and practitioners, black and white, draw a line. Just as Pink Stinks so rightly challenges the limitations that toy companies want to place on girls' and boys' imaginations and expectations, we should be doing the same about skin colour. No child should believe they have greater value in our society, because their skin is deigned 'light' or 'dark'. As a mother, writer and activist, I will not accept that.
Will you?
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