The article I read entitled, “Startling Number of Nigerian
Women Use Harmful Skin Bleaching Products” discusses how there has been a
booming increase of women in Nigeria who are using skin bleaching products in
order to lighten their skin tones. They
feel as though if they are lighter they will look more beautiful or have the
perception of being more successful.
This year, women in Nigeria topped the list of countries of women who
use these products with 77 percent of their population. A
store in the country has two aisles devoted to these skin-bleaching products
and they are expected to be a $10 billion industry worldwide by 2015. An economist reported that some people in the
country chose to only bleach their faces instead of their whole body, and that
they had developed a lingo for those people, they’re called “Fanta face, coca
cola legs.” Using these products can
lead to kidney damage, reduce the body’s natural ability to fight off bacterial
and fungal infections and also cause birth defects in pregnant women.
When reading this article I wasn’t too surprised. I’ve always heard of people, not just women
who want to be of a lighter skin completion.
The first person that popped in my mind was Michael Jackson, which I
found hilarious that he was mentioned in the article. I would think that people would look at his
situation and see what a negative impact it had on him and would want to steer
away from such harsh chemicals. I’ve
heard of women who even use these chemicals on their young children, 3 or 4
years old and feel like it’s okay to do so.
I think these products should be banned.
One should be happy within their own skin, but then people will find
other ways to do what they want. It’s
just sad that people are willing to go through such drastic matters and risk
their own lives.
Deanna Thompson
4/4/13 6:00pm
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