Why do white girls tan their skin? Why why?

Question

I don't understand why do white girls like to tan their skin. Can you explain me? I mean there are darker Caucasians who wish that they had pale skin.
For example india or southasia in general is the biggest market for skin lightening creams but on the other hand white girls are tanning themselves to look darker. LOL?

kheserthorpe · Accepted Answer

It's kind of a post industrial trend that really took off once air travel became available.

For a long time, tan = field worker, rich people were pale, which is still how it is in many parts of the world.

But industrialization meant pale = factory worker.

Then when air travel was introduced, and was the world of the rich,

Pale = factory worker, Tan = rich jet setter just back from vacation somewhere exotic.

I think those views are shifting, though it's slow. When I lived right downtown, it was like.. people didn't try to tan. But when I moved to the suburbs, I was surprised to see how many tanning places are around. I think the trend is changing, and the suburbs are behind, but I'm not sure.

Mesonfielde · Accepted Answer

No idea, apart from the obvious answer that is "it's a cultural influence and people assume that having tanned skin makes them be perceived as more attractive". Also, there wouldn't be a market for solariums and stuff if people weren't made to dislike their pale complexion.

I personally am a fan of pale complexion, and not really a fan of tanned. I don't see what's appealing in the end result and byproduct of the skin's self-defense mechanism against UV radiation. I usually tend to avoid tanning, only maybe a slight bit for vitamin D, but definitely not for brown skin.

Chronos91 · Accepted Answer

Because the entire beauty industry builds itself on selling the idea to girls that they're not perfect or beautiful as they are.

Think about it. If every girl liked the way they look, who would spend shit tons of money on creams and stuff to change their appearance? So Caucasians are fair by default. Therefore, the media tells them they must be tan. And vice versa.

Also, the popularly held concept of beauty is an elitist idea. Just look to the Tang Dynasty's fair-skinned, plump beauties. Back then, it was difficult for the average woman to stay out of the sun and gain that much weight. Therefore, fair and fat was considered beautiful.

TheLastGirlScout · Accepted Answer

Status symbols! In the western world we slave away mainly inside, away from the sun for minimum wage in offices, factory's and supermarkets. When we can afford to lounge around getting a tan then we're either on holiday or rich and don't have to work that much. In poorer, hotter countries a lot of people have to slave away outdoors in the heat, getting a tan, while the rich lounge around in the shade not doing much. It used to be the other way around, the western world use to powder their faces to look pale and having a tan meant you worked in the fields. It's all about social status symbols which change with time. Just my point of view.

cun7n1nja · Accepted Answer

I don't understand it either. I'm very fair skinned and burn easily. I also freckle really easily, which means I have to be even more concerned about protecting my skin, because freckles are concentrated bursts of melanin, and therefore more likely to turn onto melanoma. I freckle and DO eventually develop a little bit of overall color after repeated exposures. But I don't want my skin to look leathery when I'm 40, so I usually wear sunblock and don't go out of my way to tan. I spend a lot of time outside in the summer though, so getting a tiny bit of color or slipping up and ending up with a little burn once or twice isn't unexpected.

dominiquois · Answer

In the west being tanned is sexy and exotic among white and non-white people.
White girls tan because they want to feel like they are Adriana Lima/Aishwarya Rai or if blonde naturally tanned blondes like Bar Refaeli/Petra Nemcova who are beautiful, exotic and sexy. In other words, they want to feel special and they want to stand out.
Because they feel like being tanned will make up for any lack of beauty in the structure of their aesthetics, when in reality skin, eye and hair color are just extras/preferences in beauty.

kate9582 · Answer

Because its human nature. People are never satisfied with how they look or what they have. They want to be different. Greed. And then thereare the women who are being advertised by the media. They have the perfect body, the perfect tan. Personally I don't like having a tan. Even natural tan doesn't look good on me.

Red_Dragon · Answer

I honestly don't care. I like tanned and pale girls. Some white girls get terrible, ugly, tans though. I guess if it works I don't see anything wrong with it. Although, one does have to wonder how harmful it can be. The UVs those tanning booths give off are extremely dangerous. It would be better if they laid around in the sun. At least then they are getting natural rays that are less harmful. Maybe some girls want to look more black or more Indian or Latina like.

Izzy2102 · Answer

Actually in most white countries having a tan is in style, the same way being pale in style in countries with a darker skin tone like Thailand or India. we always want what we can't have. I guess a lot of men dig that kinda exotic look? So girls try to artificially achieve that

farawayorigin · Answer

I'm a white girl but my skin is very sallow so when the sun shines I get a tan very easily. I don't know what it's like in other places but where I am from girls believe that a tan makes you feel happier and look better, we also believe that it gives us the appearance of being more slender. Whilst all may not agree this is how it makes us feel, having tanned skin makes us feel confident and sexy.

steveguitar · Answer

I don't know. tanned skin looks nice, but sitting out in the sun is a fucking bore, plus i's not really healthy for the skin. It's just one of those things that fashion and popular culture have created. but white skin is also nice, so It really doesn't matter. well I guess skin that looks uniform in colour looks nice lol I don't know why people get so hyped up about it.

Anonymous · Answer

The beauty industry is screwed up- girls do this because they want to be liked and conform to the social standards of society. No one wants to be left out; everyone wants to be a part of something and I guess it's their way of expressing that- through changing skin through chemicals

Keyspirits · Answer

Its vice versa. Darker people wanna have lighter skin and white people wanna have tan skin. I use to be light skin and i wanted to be tan and now i got what i wish for. After i got what i wish for, i started wanting to have lighter skin again :/
I knew dat if i go back to light skin, ill want to have tan skin abain lol. The cycle goes on and on...

nickstaa · Answer

I think it naturally looks better on them and they usually associate it with someone who has traveled and got away from the area. in most of  Europe  or at least the part where the white people come from you can't really tan same with Canada and a lot of America.

Stacyzee · Answer

People are never contented with what they have.

A lot of white people think tan skin looks more attractive.
You look more lively, and vibrant.

Pale skin looks like you're waking from the dead or never out in the sun.

LittleSally · Answer

I don't. It makes the skin age much faster. They'll look 60 when they're 40... Good luck, people! xD

questioner1991 · Answer

They feel it makes them look less washed out and it gives them that summer glow. They also feel that when they are tan it makes their body look more toned and fit (why body builders in competitions get crazy dark spray tans).

poppunk · Answer

Getting a tan makes you look thinner and reduces the appearance of acne, and for me my ex always used to tease me about being a ghost... Like other say it looks healthier as well as being a status symbol

Anonymous · Answer

You always want what you don't have :P White girls want to tan, black girls like lighter skin. Blondes dye their hair to become brunettes, brunettes go to great lengths to become blondes. Girls are weird :P

ValueSize · Answer

Because contrary to popular belief, white girls are not miraculously immune from the system the media has set up, the system which preys off of women’s insecurities for profit.

Anonymous · Answer

I know right! I recently been to Thailand and everyone loves my pale white skin. Nobody in my country is attracted to such white skin but the Thai people are. They are always complimenting me and using whitening creams. I find it so amazing how different people and cultures can be from our own.

cupcakeangel365 · Answer

Some say it makes them look more thinner. I'm light-skin and african-american and people are surprised when I say I get tanner in the summer and I get sunburn. Sounds silly right? :P

StrawberryCream · Answer

Well I'm half black and half white and I like my skin yhe way it is in winter but when summer comes I stay in the shadows like Gollum so I won't get tanned.

findingdreamland · Answer

Tanning makes you more beautiful if it is done properly. Skin shines, less acnes, more healthy appearance etc

sarecute · Answer

The media brainwashes us (white people specifically) into thinking that tanned skin is attractive and pale skin is ugly. It's sad.

LilMissSlimShorty · Answer

It's a confidence booster. It hides a lot of your flaws and you feel better about yourself.

Maosource · Answer

Hahaha I love my almost albino white skin, so I have no clue :)

raine-on_me · Answer

IIt's cause that's what society says is pretty... which is bullshit

TinaA · Answer

I think it's like when you are 'physically attractive different', you stand out from everyone.

Anonymous · Answer

Because they are jealous tht the black race has naturally tan skin, so once they get tan they tell the world eww black people are too dark, don't like them!! But like us !!

Pepmeister · Answer

Jersey Shore has brainwashed them. We shall find the cure for tannibitis!! We will find the cure for the sake of man kind!!!

Mark-Ego-Almencion · Answer

Why do white girls tan their skin? Why why? Because they are white.

TheNewClassic · Answer

It looks healthier and better when you have A BIT of tan, like sunkissed.

lv4lv · Answer

Because nearly albino looks different than what the media projects.

Anonymous · Answer

Not sure where you're from, but here in the US they all turn to the 2% in hollywood or the entertainment business to tell them how they should look while ignoring the 98% of the rest of us who have taste in natural women.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't understand why people in general like to tan their skin. That's all I have to say.

katiemccc · Answer

i think it looks feminine and i love the sun kissed glow! :) I'm so pale compared to my friends :(

Anonymous · Answer

The same reason why some women in Japan will do anything to become whiter. It's exotic.

13thDoctor · Answer

Pale girls tan for the same reason others want to lighten their skin. It's a fact about being a girl there's something about yourself you want to change. Or more than one, for that matter.

Anonymous · Answer

I think because it looks sexier in the eyes of some.

randomwhiteguy · Answer

I don't know why, I actually prefer a pale white girl

Anonymous · Answer

Because it's not a nice glow and it makes some look prettier

SaVes · Answer

Because they like the way it looks?

suzannahh · Answer

i don't know, i kinda like my pale complexion.

turkishdelight · Answer

they love being umps lumpas

Bradley95 · Answer

Tan girls are a turn off for me.

MyInternetUserName · Answer

Tans never look good.

Anonymous · Answer

A little color can be attractive

Anonymous · Answer

they got lot of time on their hands

nachoz · Answer

No one is ever happy with what they've got -.-

Anonymous · Answer

I'm a white guy and I tan. Tan looks better.

Why do white girls tan their skin? Why why?

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