Redefining X: Colorism in the Philippines | Ayn Bernos | Ayn Bernos | TEDxADMU

Summary

The speaker shares a personal journey of grappling with colorism, recounting childhood experiences of being labeled due to her skin tone. She explores the historical roots of colorism in Filipino culture, the pervasive influence of skin-whitening industries, and the impact of societal beauty standards on self-esteem. Through her college thesis, she analyzes advertisements to expose the discriminatory language and imagery. The speaker advocates for change, encouraging individuals to challenge colorist ideologies and to embrace diversity in skin tones. She highlights the power of language and the importance of self-acceptance, aiming for a future where skin color does not dictate potential or success.

Takeaways

• 🏊‍♀️ The speaker spent much of their childhood swimming, leading to darker skin and exposure to colorism-related teasing.
• 🌞 The desire to avoid further darkening led to the speaker quitting swimming and seeking skin whitening products.
• 🎓 In college, the speaker discovered the term 'colorism' and began to understand the deep-rooted issue of discrimination against darker skin.
• 📚 The speaker's thesis research revealed the prevalence of colorism in advertising, with a focus on promoting 'whiteness' as the ideal.
• 💡 Colorism is historically linked to colonial times, where lighter skin was associated with wealth and status, and this bias persists.
• 💰 The skin whitening industry is a multi-billion dollar business, reflecting the internalized preference for lighter skin.
• 🗣️ Language plays a significant role in perpetuating colorist ideologies, and changing this language is a step towards change.
• 🌐 Social media is empowering individuals to challenge colorism and advocate for a more inclusive and diverse representation of beauty.
• 💪 The speaker calls for individuals in positions of power to be mindful of their influence and to promote change from within.
• 🌟 The ultimate goal is to create a society where skin color does not determine one's potential, opportunities, or self-worth.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood activity that led to her darker skin tone?

The speaker spent most of her childhood as a swimmer, which involved spending three to four hours under the sun during the summer.

What derogatory names did the speaker experience from her classmates due to her skin tone?

The speaker was called names such as 'uling', 'charcoal', 'negra', which were not compliments.

Why did the speaker decide to quit swimming at the age of 13?

The speaker decided to quit swimming because her skin was getting darker and darker, and her self-esteem dropped due to the negative names she was called by her classmates.

What did the speaker do in her first year of university to counteract the effects of sun exposure on her skin?

The speaker ran to the drugstore to find a fast-acting whitening lotion after playing beach volleyball for two hours under the sun.

What term does the speaker use to describe the discrimination against darker-skinned people?

The speaker uses the term 'colorism' to describe the discrimination against darker-skinned people, especially within the same ethnic group.

What was the main focus of the speaker's thesis during her fourth year in college?

The main focus of the speaker's thesis was to study and understand colorism and its impact on society.

How did the speaker analyze the representation of skin color in advertisements for her thesis?

The speaker analyzed 40 advertisements between 2012 to 2014, noting the frequency and connotations of words associated with white and dark skin, such as 'white', 'whiter', 'whitening', 'flawless', 'perfect', 'rosy glowy', 'oily', and 'dull'.

What is the current status of the skin whitening industry as mentioned in the script?

The skin whitening industry is described as a billion-dollar industry, indicating its significant presence and influence.

What are some of the real-life experiences of discrimination shared in the script?

The script shares experiences such as being rejected for a job as a flight attendant due to skin color, being profiled and barred from entering a mall, and being called 'exotic' by people from outside the country.

How is social media helping to change perceptions about colorism according to the speaker?

Social media is helping by providing a platform for people to voice their opinions against colorism, with millennials and Gen Z fighting back against problematic messaging and promoting self-acceptance and confidence in their skin color.

What is the speaker's hope for the future regarding skin color and potential?

The speaker hopes for a future where skin color does not determine one's potential or success, and where people are not judged or limited by their skin color.

Outlines

00:00

🏊‍♀️ Childhood Swimming and Colorism

The speaker reflects on their childhood as a swimmer, spending long hours under the sun, which resulted in a darker skin tone. Initially, they didn't mind their darker complexion, but as they grew older, they faced derogatory nicknames from classmates, which affected their self-esteem. At 13, they decided to quit swimming to avoid getting darker. Even in university, the fear of darkening led them to seek out whitening lotions. Despite these efforts, they embrace their identity as a proud 'morena' (a term used in the Philippines for someone with darker skin), and their journey to self-acceptance began with writing a thesis on colorism during their college years.

05:03

📚 The Impact of Colorism in Society

The speaker delves into the historical roots of colorism in Filipino culture, tracing it back to the Spanish colonial period where dark skin was associated with lower social status. They discuss the present-day implications, highlighting the billion-dollar skin whitening industry and its perpetuation of harmful beauty standards. Through their thesis research, they analyzed advertisements that reinforced colorism by using terms like 'white' and 'whitening' in a positive context, while dark skin was often linked to negative connotations. They emphasize the need to challenge these norms and how colorism affects individuals in various aspects of life, from childhood teasing to adult experiences in the workplace and public spaces.

10:04

🌐 Challenging Colorism and Embracing Diversity

The speaker advocates for change in perceptions of skin color, drawing attention to the power of language in shaping societal attitudes. They discuss the double standards in how dark skin is viewed both internally and externally, with beauty pageants and foreign perspectives often romanticizing darker skin tones. They question the need for external validation and call for self-acceptance and celebration of one's natural skin color. The speaker highlights the positive shift in social media, where people are increasingly vocal against colorism, and the importance of individuals using their platforms and influence to challenge and change harmful beauty standards. They conclude by emphasizing the role of each person in creating a more inclusive and accepting society, where skin color does not dictate potential or success.

Keywords

💡Colorism

Colorism refers to discrimination against individuals with certain skin tones, typically favoring lighter skin over darker skin within the same racial or ethnic group. In the video, the speaker discusses personal experiences with colorism, such as being called names due to her darker skin tone, and how this discrimination has historical roots in Filipino culture, with dark skin being associated with lower social status during the Spanish colonial period.

💡Self-esteem

Self-esteem is an individual's sense of their own value or worth. The video describes how the speaker's self-esteem was affected by the negative comments about her skin color, leading her to quit swimming and seek skin-whitening products. This term is central to understanding the personal struggle and the broader societal implications of colorism.

💡Skin whitening industry

The skin whitening industry encompasses products and services aimed at lightening the skin. The video mentions that this industry is a billion-dollar business, indicating its pervasiveness and the deep-rooted preference for lighter skin. The speaker's own attempt to use a 'fast-acting whitening lotion' after a beach volleyball class highlights the pressure to conform to these beauty standards.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially based on skin color. The video script provides examples of discrimination, such as job rejections due to skin color and being profiled in public spaces, illustrating the real-world impact of colorism beyond personal experiences.

💡Morena

In the context of the video, 'morena' is a term used to describe individuals with darker skin tones in the Philippines. The speaker embraces the term as a source of pride, contrasting with the historical and societal stigma attached to darker skin. The video's narrative challenges the negative connotations associated with 'morena' and promotes self-acceptance.

💡Spanish colonial times

This term refers to the historical period when the Philippines was under Spanish rule, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. The video discusses how during this era, dark skin was associated with poor laborers, while fair skin was linked to wealth and status, setting the stage for colorism that persists today.

💡Advertisements

Advertisements are a form of communication intended to persuade an audience to take some action, often to purchase a product or service. The video analyzes 40 advertisements to highlight how the language and imagery used perpetuate colorist ideologies, such as the frequent use of the word 'white' in a positive context and the portrayal of darker skin in a negative light.

💡Language

Language is used in the video to discuss its power in shaping perceptions and attitudes towards skin color. The speaker points out how language has been historically used to maintain harmful beauty standards and how it can be a tool for change. The video encourages mindful use of language to challenge and transform colorist norms.

💡Social media

Social media is a collective term for websites and applications which focus on interaction and community building. The video notes the role of social media in raising awareness about colorism, with younger generations using platforms to challenge traditional beauty standards and advocate for self-acceptance and diversity.

💡Exotic beauty

The term 'exotic beauty' is critiqued in the video as it implies that dark-skinned individuals are unusual or foreign, often used to describe Filipinas with foreign partners. The speaker questions the need for external validation and the implication that dark skin is not inherently beautiful without comparison to a foreign standard.

💡Agents of change

Agents of change refers to individuals who actively work to bring about change in society. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to be mindful of their own biases and language, and to use their influence, whether in education, media, or personal interactions, to challenge and change colorist attitudes.

Highlights

The speaker spent childhood as a swimmer, resulting in darker skin and facing racial slurs.

At 13, the speaker decided to quit swimming due to the negative impact on self-esteem from skin color discrimination.

In college, the speaker's beach volleyball class triggered childhood fears of darkening skin.

The speaker's journey to self-acceptance began with writing a thesis on colorism in the fourth year of college.

Colorism has been a part of Filipino culture since Spanish colonial times, associating dark skin with lower status.

The skin whitening industry is a billion-dollar business, reflecting deep-rooted colorist beliefs.

The speaker analyzed 40 advertisements and found the word 'white' used 25 times, often linked to positive attributes.

Dark skin in ads was associated with negative terms like 'oily' and 'dull', and often framed in fear and avoidance.

Colorism affects daily life, from childhood teasing to adult insecurities and professional discrimination.

Content creator Patrice Avarilia was told to whiten her skin to qualify for a flight attendant job.

A Facebook user was racially profiled in a mall, illustrating the real-world impact of colorism.

In beauty pageants, dark skin is celebrated, but externally, it's often seen as something that needs validation from others.

The speaker questions the need for external validation to embrace one's skin color and calls for self-acceptance.

Social media is helping to change perceptions of colorism, with more people speaking out against it.

Language is a powerful tool in the fight against colorism, and the speaker encourages mindful communication.

The speaker calls for individuals in positions of power to be agents of change, influencing perceptions of beauty and potential.

Change starts with self-reflection and challenging our own assumptions about skin color.

The speaker envisions a future where skin color does not determine potential or success.

The speaker concludes with a call to action for collective change, starting with individual attitudes towards skin color.

Transcripts

[Music]

i had spent most of my childhood as a

swimmer

and that meant that during the summer i

would spend three to four hours under

the sun

i had a fun childhood but at the same

time

it meant that i was the darkest i had

ever been and probably will ever be

now at first that didn't really bother

me until i realized that some of the

names my classmates would call me

were not exactly compliments

i've been called uling or charcoal

negra

and while yes they're not really insults

the way that they were said to me

kind of felt like there were

now when i was 13 i decided that i would

quit swimming i remember begging my

parents to just let me stop because it

was not worth it

i got darker and darker and

along with the darkness of my skin

self-esteem also dropped

when i was in my first year

in university i remembered taking beach

volleyball for my pe class

and after two hours under the sun the

first thing that i did was to run to the

drugstore

just so i can find the fast acting

whitening lotion that will

hopefully reverse the effects of the sun

on me

and while it has been years since i quit

swimming

just

one class under the sun

had brought back all of the fears from

childhood and once again

i was so afraid of getting dark

obviously none of my attempts at

whitening worked because i'm here in

front of you a very very proud morena

it all started

my journey to being a proud marenna

started when i was writing my thesis in

my fourth year in college

in my fourth year in college i finally

discovered

what it was the issue that i was

struggling with my whole life and that

was colorism

aka the discrimination against darker

skinned people especially within the

same ethnic group

now when i was starting to write this i

was met with a lot of skepticism because

some people didn't really understand

what it was was it racism was it

something else is it just skin color

aren't there bigger problems

i had a lot of those comments but this

was deeply personal to me and i knew

that it wasn't something that i

experienced just by myself

and true enough

i was right

you see colorism has been

present in filipino culture for

centuries

back in

the spanish colonial times

dark skin was always associated with

poor laborers and fair skin was

associated with

wealth and status and even today to the

present day the skin whitening industry

is a billion dollar industry

it was felt then it's felt now

and

for some reason we have accepted these

beauty standards as normal

and acceptable

so when i wrote my thesis i studied 40

advertisements between 2012 to 2014.

i know it's been quite some time since i

wrote that paper but

the things that i learned really

influenced the way that i saw colorism

and what we can do to change it

so between those 40 ads the word white

appeared 25 times and that excludes all

the other variations of it that's

widens whiter whitening all of those

and

more than just the use of white

we would also

see how white was attached to positive

words such as flawless perfect

rosy glowy

now we compare the use of white to

dark skin

now dark skin would often be attached to

words like oily and dull

and more than that when we talk about

dark skin and these advertisements

it would always be

out of fear and avoidance

but see

that mentality those beauty ideologies

don't just stop in our tv screens

we bring them to our daily lives

from childhood kids would

throw around might them or dark skin as

an insult and in adulthood

we would often

feel insecure when we look like this

when we get a little bit darker

we see it in commercials

how

morena skin is often

the before

not the after before and after

commercials

we would often see darker skinned actors

as sidekicks instead of leads

and when we

look for jobs one of the especially

customer-facing jobs we would have

presentable as a requirement but

that poses a difficulty especially when

people's notion of presentable means

fair skinned

what about everybody else right

what about everybody else who's a little

bit on the darker side

you see

a lot of people experience this and it's

not just

teasing it's not it doesn't end in

teasing it doesn't end in bullying

would have been simple if we could just

end things by telling people to to stop

talking about

dark skin as if it's a it's an insult

but

the problem doesn't end there

for example

content creator patrice avarilia shared

in one of her videos that when she

applied for a flight attendant job she

was rejected and asked to come back once

she has undergone skin whitening

what does her skin color what does our

skin color have to do with our ability

to perform

tasks for that job

there was another member of the gaiu

monkey club on facebook

where

he mentioned that he was entering a mall

with his laptop and he was barred by the

security officer because

he

didn't seem like the kind of guy who

would

be able to afford a laptop he looked

suspicious was what he said and

this is often an experience of somebody

who looks like us

profiling based on skin color

now on the other hand

when we look at

dark skin from an external point of view

things tend to be a little different

in beauty pageants we pride ourselves

with our natural tan we like to talk

about our dark skin

from the perspective of foreigners like

foreigners want to get tan

we have the tan therefore we are

beautiful and great

and then when we talk about filipinas

who have foreign partners we often call

them

an exotic beauty which is kind of

confusing to me honestly i've been at

the receiving end of that compliment a

lot of the time

and i keep wondering how am i exotic how

is anyone here exotic when we're

everywhere

so many filipinos share my skin color

and yet we're exotic

why is that

why do we need

validation from people outside our

country

in order to give ourselves permission to

embrace and celebrate dark skin can't we

just

be beautiful

on our own

now luckily things are changing

with social media people are becoming

more and more and more vocal about

colorism and it's it's beautiful to see

language used to be used to maintain

colorist ideologies

we used to maintain those harmful

beauty standards by using

[Music]

language

now

today we are using language to change

that and that is a powerful tool to have

for example a few years ago there was a

glutathione ad that mistakenly pit

dark-skinned women against bare-skinned

women and

twitter was just not having it

millennials and gen z are fighting back

and consumers finally have a voice

we get to tell brands that

no we don't like this

this messaging is problematic

and then we have our

families

at home

young kids are starting to have a little

bit more

confidence

when they're told that they need to

change something about their skin or

their body

it's getting more and more common

and

encouraged to just say

hey

i do like myself i don't want to change

that part of myself

and it's so awesome to see i see it

everywhere on social media

twitter tick tock oh my gosh

it inspires me right back

you see

language is power the way we use words

to talk about skin color is power

and when we find ourselves in positions

of power

hopefully we can keep this in mind

if you're an educator and you control

the narrative in class

when you talk about skin color or beauty

or potential

how do you communicate to your students

if you're

a hiring manager and

you're asked to look for somebody

presentable from for the job

how do you define presentable how do you

define beautiful

if you're a media professional and

you're tasked to execute one of these

ads

how would you execute it what choices

are you gonna make

if you're an influencer and you have a

platform

what kind of browns are you going to

work with

how are you going to talk about skin

color and beauty

when we are in positions of power

sometimes we don't realize that our

little choices affect us all

in a bigger scale and hopefully

when we make those decisions we realize

that we need to be agents of change

the change

the kind of change that will allow

generations of

brown-skinned filipinos to just believe

that they're good enough by default

where they see themselves as equals

the equals of their fair-skinned

counterparts

language is powerful

and if we're mindful about this

maybe

the grander scheme of things and the

grander scheme of things

it might take some time

but

we shouldn't forget that the most impact

that we have

will really

happen when we start within ourselves

and so

before going out there and trying to

change things

here's step one

let's bring us all back to step one

let's ask yourselves

when we see a dark-skinned person

across the street what is it that we we

assume about them

when people joke about skin color and

our social circles within our own friend

group and our families

how do we react do we laugh

do we let them be or do we speak up and

ask what's so funny about that

how do we talk about skin color what do

we

see in skin color

now

i ask you this because

this change really does start with us it

starts with how we look at ourselves how

we see each other

and how we

decide to move forward because

i really do have the hopes that one day

because of this collective

change slowly but surely

when we

speak with conviction when we speak

carefully mindfully

hopefully one day we'll be able to craft

a world where

little brown kids won't have to quit

their favorite sport just because they

didn't feel like they were beautiful

enough and

brown skinned people won't have to

think if their skin color is going to

cost them their job or the next

opportunity

maybe we'll be able to craft a future

where our skin color does not determine

our potential

and our success

and maybe

hopefully

one day

we get to a point in filipino culture

we're a skin color

that used to be a symbol of status and

wealth and

what we're gonna be

who we can be

skin color

one day

can just be

skin color

[Music]

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