Is fair lovely?: A cross-cultural comparison of the impact of colorism on mental health in South Asian women

Colorism, a preference for lighter skin tones within and between racial or ethnic groups, impacts many non-White communities, especially those with a history of colonization (Rondilla & Spickard, 2007). I aimed to extend upon perceptions of colorism by exploring the intensity and frequency of colorism messages and how it affects the mental well-being of South Asian women in the U.S. and South Asia. Using Objectification Theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997), I hypothesized that these messages are associated with self-objectification processes (e.g., skin tone surveillance, skin color satisfaction, internalization of skin color beauty ideals) predicting skin-lightening product use. Results of my structural equation model with South Asian women, as well as implications for interventions and clinical practice, will be discussed.