Dark is Beautiful

The Issue: The toxic belief that a woman’s worth is measured by the fairness of her skin.

Women of Worth (WOW) have interacted with thousands of women and one of the key issues that has surfaced is the belief that the beauty and value of an Indian woman is determined by the fairness of her skin. This false belief,shaped by societal attitudes and reinforced by media messages, is corroding the self-worth of countless girls and women.

Our interactions have revealed that women with darker complexions:

• Are often seen as the second or last option in industries that seem to set beauty norms, such as fashion, film, hospitality and services,etc.
• Have been discriminated against in the workplace, and feel they have to work harder to be accepted by their peers
• Have been insulted and mistreated by their own relations
• Have been rejected by potential marriage partners