Monday, June 09, 2008
Be the fairest of them all
From the RoundTable blog
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Hannah Lane
Lane is a graduate of Lord Botetourt High School and is a rising sophomore at Elon University.
For those of us who grew up rejoicing that Cinderella's foot was the perfect fit, sighing with relief when the handsome prince awoke Sleeping Beauty, and cheering when the Little Mermaid and Eric finally kissed, the idea that a fair-skinned beauty could win her dream man was a real possibility. Granted, they were animated and fictional, but the point is that it is hard to understand why so many little girls who fantasized about looking like a Disney princess have grown up to become so obsessed with looking so remarkably different.
The ideas generated by this group of females have now transcended genders, races and age groups. The association that is made between being tan and being beautiful has nearly become true because so many have come to believe it. People go to extremes to achieve this beauty.
The obsession with getting a tan to become attractive must be halted; not only is it dangerous, but it is superficial and unnecessary -- as they say, beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and skin tones.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 92 percent of respondents knew that sun tanning is dangerous, yet 65 percent believed that they look more attractive with a tan. This is not surprising considering what people (especially women) say: Tanning makes them look thinner, clears up their skin and gives them confidence. That's lovely, but along with attractiveness, tanners also gain some very unattractive features: wrinkles, saggy skin, a clearly artificial look, and oh, have I mentioned melanoma?
Aside from old-fashioned sun tanning, the indoor tanning bed is the most popular method used to achieve a satisfying tan. The dangers of the tanning bed have been made incredibly apparent. Yet, millions of young women continue to use them year-round. Although lawmakers have taken measures to stop their use, the larger issue to be addressed is the mentality these women possess that being tan means being beautiful.
Although tanning bed users are the main audience, it is important to spread the message to all women. Even those who do not use a tanning bed might still want to have tan skin, whether they use the natural sunlight or safe alternatives like spray tans and self-tanning lotion. They might be "tanning" the safe way, but their mindset is still discouraging.
It would be unrealistic to suggest that this mentality will change drastically overnight. Women have been sunbathing for a long time now, and there is no evidence that the trend will discontinue. The recent rise in awareness stems from the fact that tanning is no longer strictly a summer phenomenon. Decades ago, sunbathers could claim ignorance, but with the information available today, there is really no excuse.
I am not suggesting that we should stay indoors forever or that SPF 60 must be applied with every venture outdoors. Soaking up the sun's rays in small doses is not only relaxing but also very important. I'm simply suggesting that we do a better job of protecting our skin. The healthy glow that can be achieved in small doses outdoors becomes unhealthy when people take it too far. No one looks naturally tan in the winter. Why face all of those risks by faking it?
Say goodbye to the tanning bed and, more important, get rid of the idea that tanning makes one beautiful. Lindsay Lohan was more attractive as a stunning fair-skinned redhead, Nicole Kidman's pale complexion obviously has not restrained her, and Daniel Radcliffe's contrast of dark features on light skin hasn't lost Harry Potter any fans. Marilyn Monroe, one of the ultimate female icons of the century, was a blond-haired, fair-skinned bombshell. In earlier eras, people would powder their faces so they appeared paler, as that was a sign of wealth.
People used to want to be less tan, and then opinions changed. Who is to say that they can't be changed again? Being tan is simply a trend, and a dangerous one at that. It is just not essential -- it might hide facial flaws and make one appear thinner, but the risks of permanent skin damage, wrinkles, moles and cancer outweigh the benefits.
It is a false statement that pale people look like dead people, so wear sunscreen every day and do not waste money or time on the tanning bed or tanning lotion. Tanning makes you look like a fake version of yourself, causes you to risk your life and can become an obsession. Besides, wouldn't you rather look like a Disney princess?
