Whats so wrong with whitewashing?

[gardenofeden]

Its the korean beauty standard, of course i wanna see tan tzuyu and jihyo, but whitewashing ain't that big of a problem

 

[Mikasa Ackerman]

Its the korean beauty standard, of course i wanna see tan tzuyu and jihyo, but whitewashing ain't that big of a problem

Yes, I agree with you!

 

[gardenofeden]

Yes, I agree with you!

I literally got called a racist for sayin it isn't a big deal and i'm like sis i'm black

 

[stanloona]

I think people make a big deal out of it because sometimes people over do it and make them look like ghosts. But they only do it because porcelain pale skin is their beauty standard. I mean it’s fine if you slightly white wash during touch ups but making their face like 10 shades off from their neck doesnt feel right.

 

[gardenofeden]

I think people make a big deal out of it because sometimes people over do it and make them look like ghosts. But they only do it because porcelain pale skin is their beauty standard. I mean it’s fine if you slightly white wash during touch ups but making their face like 10 shades off from their neck doesnt feel right.

But most of the time, they look fine...

 

[stanloona]

But most of the time, they look fine...

I agree most of the time it’s fine I just don’t agree with the people who over do it and turn them extremely pale

 

[gardenofeden]

I loved the pale look in More & More though tans would've fit the summer concept

 

[LostInTheDream]

I think it's just because it asserts that some people are not up to standard and need to be fixed, that could be offensive to the people who do get whitewashed.
It could also be insulting to the person cause by white washing them you are kind of saying 'your skin tone is ugly'.
Lighter skin is also preferred in Asian countries because it is also an indicator of wealth and high status, so by whitewashing a tanner person you are kinda indicating that they are of lower class.

 

[moonlight]

I don't mind it but it depends on how much whitewash there is.....

 

[solei ✦]

i think most asian beauty standards like skin colours came from white privileges, so if asians are tanned skin they are claimed as 'ugly/does not fit standard'. although some people dont realise that the lighting in the environment could also affect how the skin looks on camera

 

[OppaIsTrash]

generally speaking whitewashing is a problem because it perpetuates colorism (discrimination based on skin color as opposed to race, and usually perpetuated within non-white communities and as a result of white supremacy). idols with darker complexions getting whitewashed perpetuates the idea that their skin color is undesirable and that they would be more beautiful if they were paler.

while lighting can effect how colors appear in photographs, there are fansites, makeup artists, etc who purposefully make them look significantly paler than they are. even if the standard of beauty is pale skin that doesn't justify it and it is not a harmless action.

i showed this to a friend who is more well equipped to have this discussion than i am and she's made an account so she can post here. @celestialscholar

 

[celestialscholar]

Hiii~

whitewashing and colorism is one of the tools of racism and white supremacy. Its not surprising that Asia who has been colonized by western forces on and off for years is also victim to these dynamics. It also shouldn’t surprise us either that because of this, Asia has racist attitudes towards darker skin and those attitudes are reflected in popular media. In K-pop, these attitudes are enforced more harshly because of its popularity both domestically and internationally.

In their minds in order to sell records and become popular with international audiences, Companies have to have idols that are light skinned and have European-like features. And so many idols have to either get plastic surgery or lighten their skin. Thus reinforcing these racists attitudes and letting them be accepted and normalized through popular media.

This is why whitewashing is unacceptable.

 

[An Okay Rock]

"In many societies, and especially in Asia, dark skin has long been associated with working in the fields and, therefore, rural poverty. On the other hand, pale skin is associated with living a more comfortable, cosmopolitan life indoors, out of the sun. Skin color is thus a sign of social class."

That's what I found on it, I hope it's relevant