How are beauty standards ever going to change??

Question

So constantly I notice threads on here discussing cornrows on white people, braids on white people or just generally accusing white people of cultural appropriation.  It seems as a more diverse standard of beauty grows, the hatred and judgment of those embracing it and emulating it grows as well.  And I'm truly confused as to why, if the Eurocentric beauty standard is such a problem, why when being discussed do I see POC claiming people straightening their hair, dying it blonde, wearing blue contacts, lightening their skin is NOT them trying to be white?  Which is it? Are you being forced to look white? Or are you just changing what you want?

Answer

Assimilation is encouraged in this country.

Black folk sometimes straighten their hair because Afro style hair, our natural hair, is deamed unprofessional. To look "professional" black women are strongly encouraged to spend the thousands of dollars to damage our hair so that it better resembles a white persons.

We are not forced to do so, however if we don't, it is perfectly legal to fire us from our jobs or expell us from school. These things are things that have happened and are still happening.

So naturally we have come to understand that to look white is to keep our jobs, to look white is to stay in school. We are taught to speak white to get jobs.

We are taught our names will keep us from occupations so instead of beautiful culturally relevant names like Aaliyah, we name our children names that sound whiter.

It's not that we want to be white, but that it would be easier if we were.

Answer

It's weird how everyone acts like they're so clueless about this. It's statistically proven the farther from white you look the more likely you are to be discriminated against. A lot of us have to imitate whiteness so we can have better opportunities. You have no idea how many times my natural hair texture was considered inappropriate for jobs and even school. I've had teachers tell me to straighten my hair or try my best to hide my texture because my hair looks awful. I've had to leave jobs because I wasn't allowed to wear my natural hair. We do it to survive.

Answer

AMEN🙌🏻🙌🏻 Couldn't have said it better myself, someone has FINALLY put it into words.

Answer

It's annoying and I'm tired of having to have this conversation all the time. Assimilation is encouraged. White is the standard of beauty (not in my opinion because I live by my own standard) but white is pushed as beautiful. The problem with hairstyle is that when black women walked around with braids and cornrows they were called ghetto but if a white woman copies the same hairstyle then she is cool, chic, trendy, earthy and in touch with herself? That's a problem when black women and some Puerto Rican women have been walking around with braids for centuries. I don't like seeing black people walk around trying to assimilate and I personally never will because I love my features and think I am BEAUTIFUL and i LOVE my hair. But what I don't understand is since black is deemed as ugly and ghetto why a white person would even want to emulate it

Answer

There are black women that try to in a sense 'look white'. However they are not trying to take one that race or its culture. It's something we've been brainwashed into doing. The color of our skin, the texture of our hair, the broadness of our nose are all things that were used to make us feel inferior. It's been engraved in us that the lighter your skin, the straighter and silkier your hair, the slimmer your nose means your better than someone who does not have those features. So yes many black women do strive for straighter slikier longer hair, lighter skin because when they were little they were told 'you're cute for a dark skin girl.' 'Your hair is too nappy.' 'You'd be cute with a smaller nose or smaller lips.'

The reason it's an uproar for white woman appropriating or culture is due to the fact that they are aiming to have everything we are put down for. They tan their skin, make their lips plumper. They enhance their butt. What makes it worse is they trey to change the name of things we created. Boxer braids? Rope braids? Now I know their are other cultures that braids are a traditional hair style but they a far differs from ours. They do not give credit where credit is due. They are praised for everything we are yet we are out down for it. We are not the only culture in which it happens. But we can't speak up when don't know hat culture.

Answer

... it's literally the smallest inconveniences ever that us white folks can't appropriate Black and Latin hairstyles. The sacrifices that POC and Indigenous peoples have to make in North America to survive in a white Eurocentric world far exceed the disappointment I feel that I can't snatch my baby hairs. Like get it together Mary.
Maybe if people didn't face such discrimination here in our society, there wouldn't be a feeling of appropriation when it comes to fashion and grooming, cause we'd all be on a level playing field. Obviously we're not there yet. Hopefully one day though🤞🏻

Answer

Well one unless they are done the right way cornrows look absolutely ridiculous and ugly on white people. Two I think black people look ridiculous in blue contacts. Honestly scares the shit out of me. If you don't look good just don't do it.

Answer

Damn didn't see any of the comments.. Why did it get deleted lol

How are beauty standards ever going to change??

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey