In India, Skin-Whitening Creams Reflect Old Biases

In India, Skin-Whitening Creams Reflect Old Biases

November 12, 2009

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[6 min 41 sec]Add to PlaylistDownloadTranscript Enlarge Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty ImagesAn Indian salesman poses with men's skin fairness products at a shop in New Delhi.

Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty ImagesAn Indian salesman poses with men's skin fairness products at a shop in New Delhi.

text sizeAAANovember 12, 2009For decades, the cosmetics industry in India has made millions selling skin-whitening products to women. Now, it's making more money by convincing Indian men that they should be lighter.

Industry analysts say skin-lightening creams for men, first introduced a few years back, are selling well, and that the Indian market is growing as India's economy improves.

The TV advertisements tend to send the same message: Light skin makes you attractive to women and successful at work. Dark skin, by implication, does not.

'White Is Hot'

(Image Credit: Manan Vatsyayana AFP/Getty Images)

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