Center for “Race,” Culture and Social Justice Colloquia Series Colorism in Bangladeshi Society by Kari B. Jensen (Global Studies and Geography, Hofstra University)
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 | 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Zoom Link: https://hofstra.zoom.us/j/99442902438?pwd=M3RybDAyay9rOEYvYmRSZ2ZVM2l6dz09 Streetscapes are turned into places of discrimination when billboards display the message of colorism, glorifying fair skin. The seemingly omnipresent advertisements not only on billboards, but also in newspapers, magazines, the internet and on TV tell people how successful they will become if they use skin lightening products. Such products are very common in Bangladesh, and they are sold over the counter in cosmetic stores, gift stores, and grocery stores. According to the World Health Organization the use of these products is accompanied by many health risks, such as kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections. Side-effects even include mental disorders and conditions such as anxiety, depression, psychosis and peripheral neuropathy. Not only are the people who use the products themselves exposed to health risks, but a lot of people are also affected indirectly, as toxins from the skin lightening products end up in waterways and seafood. The mental pain and suffering that seems so commonly experienced by dark-skinned people and especially dark-skinned females in Bangladesh and in the Bangladeshi diaspora should be given more focus in academia, schools, media and other arenas, with an aim to strengthen empathy and critical thinking skills to enable people to avoid the brainwashing that the bombardment of colorist comments, advertisements and entertainment amounts to. This intersectional study aims at empowering people to resist the commercial and societal pressure.