13 November: Negotiating Colourism in Families: How skin shade prejudice informs identities and relationships

Definition: Colourism is skin shade prejudice, where individuals with darker skin face penalties in comparison to those with lighter skin.
Affects people of colour worldwide, regardless of gender or ethnicity.

Conducted by Dr Aisha Phoenix and Dr Nadia Craddock.
Involved interviews with 33 people of colour (24 women, nine men) in the UK.
Aims: Understand perceptions of colourism and its effects on daily life and romantic desirability.

Education: Darker-skinned individuals tend to have lower attainments and face harsher disciplinary actions.
Employment: Dark-skinned persons often earn less and are overlooked for specific roles.
Relationships: Dark-skinned individuals may struggle in dating and partner selection, facing biases against them.
Criminal Justice: Dark-skinned men receive longer sentences for similar crimes compared to their lighter counterparts.
Well-being: Colourism correlates with lower self-esteem and negative body image.

Light skin privilege is prevalent; lighter-skinned family members are often favoured.
Family socialisation influences perceptions of beauty linked to skin tone.
Colourism is perpetuated through comparisons and favouritism, reinforcing negative stereotypes about darker skin.

Some individuals attempt to change their skin tone with skin-lightening products, which can be harmful.
A billion-dollar industry exists for skin-lightening products, showing societal value placed on lighter skin.

Colourism affects personal identity, mental health, and social dynamics.
Understanding the nature of colourism is critical to addressing its impacts and fostering a more inclusive society.