Excellent collection of essays from Asian American women on skin color and beyond. While many women are laying in tanning beds and slathering on the self-tanner, many Asian American women are fully covered in gloves, hats and long pants.

Explorations in color bias, cosmetic procedures and products - how these women, and women like them, are affected by culture and modern society.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

***I was granted an ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***

Colorism is a challenge that many people face from within their own racial group and can have a negative emotional and mental impact on those affected by it. In the book, Whiter: Asian American Women on Skin Color and Colorism edited by Nicki Khanna, 30 Asian American women relate their experience dealing colorism. Khanna did a good job of choosing women from a wide variety of Asian cultures, walks of life and age giving the reader a wide range of views to consider. For some of the writers they consider their privilege in having light skin in a community that prizes it. Others consider the negative effects it has had in their lives and the lives of other Asian American women. The book presents the reader with a very thought provoking analysis of colorism and would be a great starting point for looking at what this problem actually looks like for everyday Asian American women both in the US and abroad. This is a great book and I would encourage everyone to give it a go.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars. Would highly recommend to a friend.

While there is a decent amount of writing about colorism within the Black community, you'd be hard-pressed to find much about it among Asian Americans. Apart from stating that it exists, not many have truly delved into the complicated matter of exploring colorism within a community that is, for all intents and purposes, made up. It is unimaginable to think such a huge swath of land and people could be summed up in one word and treated as if it was one entity, and yet here we find ourselves.

Despite these challenges, Khanna provides an excellent primer and heartfelt inquiry into exactly this topic. Drawing from a multitude of women from different backgrounds and experiences, she has collected the varied stories, thoughts, and feelings that go into being an Asian American woman in a society/culture that values one shade of skin above all. While each perspective is precious, it is Khanna's introduction to each chapter that truly shines. I wasn't able to fully follow each category that she outlined, but was impressed by her research and knowledge on each nuanced topic. In this way, the book is both perfectly suited for those just beginning to understand colorism to those who have been aware of it for a while. It appeals to this wide audience not just on an emotional level, but on a mental one as well.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so glad that I’m pushing myself to read new books, new authors, and new genres this year, because otherwise I may not have encountered this important book.

I learned so much about colorism in this book and the way that it impacts a variety of communities, focusing on Asian/Asian American ones. I am grateful for the 30 women who shared intensely personal stories about the impact that colorism has or has had on their lives, and I felt connected to the women who are now navigating this unfair world as mothers of girls and young women.

I also appreciate the editor of this book, Nikki Khanna who wrote such thoughtful and well-researched introductions to each part and to the book itself. Our country needs this book, so thank you.

This was a nonfiction book review of the attitudes of South Asian Black and Asian women towards the color of their skin. I did not know that the lighter the race is the more beautiful, easier to marry and more educated the woman is perceived to be. Light skinned people thus are more desirable in the major cultures. Africa was not reviewed. There are personal essays throughout the book demonstrating this phenomenon. I found the book to be very informative and interesting. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

2.5
Very interesting subject matter, and something I knew nothing about. While I found the content interesting and informative, I didn't much care for the format. The essays by individuals were great, there just weren't enough of them. The introduction to each section took up the majority of the content and it often times was repetitive. The essays also seemed to be written by highly educated women, there wasn't a range of experiences in the writing.

There’s a lot to be understood about the many facets of racism and how physical appearance defines how we are treated, approached, and even cared for by our own families. This book is a brilliant series of essays on exactly how colourism manifests within Asian communities, and how it impacts on the lives of young people (women especially) as it becomes ingrained in their everyday lives from the minute they are born.

I found the many forms that colourism takes particularly interesting, as I didn’t realise there was such a deep expanse to it all. Sure, I knew that women were subjected to ‘skin-lightening’ ads and that a glut of these were incredibly racist, but I didn’t realise how much it impacted the social facets of one’s life, from job prospects to marriage to even having children. It was quite a shell-shock, but a necessary one.

The personal anecdotes of the women who have contributed to this book were enlightening and heartbreaking as well, and I feel like it would do a world of good to have parents especially realise just how much harm these socially ingrained beliefs causes their children and those who come after them based on their features. Physical appearance should not define love, and yet it makes such an impact across the globe as we vilify darker features for an ideal that makes no sense to install on a pedestal.

<i>“Only as an adult do I understand colorism for what it is— a repressive, sexist, and racist practice that disadvantages much of the world’s population.”</i>

Split into six carefully curated sections (Colorism Defined, Privilege, Aspirational Whiteness, Anti-Blackness, Belonging and Identity, Skin— Redefined), this anthology is an ambitious feat in providing more clarity to the nuanced, complex issue of colorism. These 30 accounts of lived experiences by Asian American women sheds light on this understudied issue, deeply rooted in Asian ethnic cultures, European colonisation, exacerbated by capitalism and consumerism.

Having grown up between Asia and the U.S., I saw myself in the accounts of these women and also learned so much from the experiences I hadn’t had first hand. And for that, I thank each of the contributors and editor for their vulnerability, hard work of putting words to experience, and courage to share it with the readers.

Whether or not you have experienced colorism as an Asian American woman, this is a powerful must-read for all races and genders— both in and outside the U.S.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.

In this collection of essays, Nikki Khanna investigates the effects of beauty standards that favor whiter skin and the beauty industry and products that perpetuate those values. I always have a difficult time reading through essay collections. They are just inevitably harder for me to finish than a nonfiction book with a single narrator. In this case, Khanna set up a solid foundation in her introduction that allowed me to flow from essay to essay without losing interest. The subject matter was largely to blame for that. I knew skin whitening products existed, was reasonably disappointed that they were a thing, but being white, I was obviously missing the larger context. These women describe their own complicated relationships and experiences with the pressure to have white skin, and I encourage readers to pick it up. Either to validate their own experiences with colorism, or to expand their own understanding.

This book is a modern day masterclass on Colorism, an insidious thing I always knew existed but never knew the name for: "a term first coined by novelist Alice Walker in 1983," "a cousin of racism," brought about in part by colonialism and imperialism and consumerism. Through a series of eloquent essays, written by Asian American women of varying skintones, ages and backgrounds, Nikki Khanna presents a brilliant overview of relevant themes such as otherness, "forever foreigners" and even brings up present-day politics and representation through social media, apps and emojis. Khanna's thoughtful section headings include Privilege, Aspirational Whiteness, and Antiblackness among others.

Having lived in Japan and traveled a lot of Asia for 5 years after college, as a Haffu myself, I've noticed that Asians are much more forthright and vocal in their attention to physical appearance, but I found this collection of firsthand accounts of families harassing their girls about their skin color to be shocking. And the fact that this is evidenced among black and Latino populations as well is horrifying. I distinctly recall being impressed by Malaysia's ban on caucasian models from advertising billboards in the capitol city Kuala Lumpur, while traveling there in the early 90's, and am so disappointed to read here that that's no longer the case.

I'm not sure I believe one writer's assertion that "Cosmetic surgery is the norm nowadays in Asia, the United States, and worldwide" or another's blanket statement that "In Philippine television, beautiful people are light and rich. Ugly people are dark and poor (the redeeming ones are comical at best). US media is no different"... but I wholeheartedly agree that these definitely are growing problems, that Nikki Khanna's spotlighting the issue is crucial, and as Rosalie Chan's last line succinctly puts it, "Vilifying dark skin must stop."

S'il existe de nombreuses études sur le colorisme (terme inventé par Alice Walker) au sein de la « communauté » noire, le sujet est moins traité dans les autres « communautés », notamment la « communauté » asiatique. C'est de cette dernière dont il est question dans ce livre (plus spécifiquement, aux États-Unis). Il traite d'une part du colorisme entre régions d'origine : Inde, Asie du Sud-Est et Asie de l'Est (les derniers ayant la peau plus claire), et d'autre part, du colorisme entre originaires d'un même pays (ou entre membres d'une même famille). Le colorisme vise plutôt les femmes. Pour les hommes, une peau foncée est moins préjudiciable (cf. les acteurs noirs et les actrices noires aux États-Unis). Les critères qui s'appliquent aux femmes sont plus contraignants : Plus tu es mince, mieux c'est. Plus ton nez est fin, mieux c'est. Mais surtout, plus tu es claire, mieux c'est. En Asie, même avant les premiers contacts, la peau claire était un signe de richesse et de classe (les femmes riches restaient à l'intérieur) et la peau foncée, un signe de pauvreté et d'infériorité (les femmes pauvres étaient obligées de travailler dans les champs et s'exposaient donc au soleil.

Trente femmes asio-américaines ou asiatiques décrivent leur expérience du colorisme : au sein de leur famille, dans leur pays, dans le pays de leurs parents. Les remarques incessantes (pour leur bien), les critiques, les humiliations, la difficulté à se débarrasser de ces préceptes inculqués depuis l'enfance, leur rébellion quand elles affichent leur bronzage qui inspire l'horreur à leurs mères et aux autres femmes de leur famille. Les essais sont répartis en chapitres : définition du colorisme, privilège, aspiration à la blancheur, anti-noirceur/négritude (anti-blackness), appartenance et identité, redéfinition de la peau.

J'aime beaucoup ces livres composés de témoignages, avec une introduction au début de chaque chapitre. Cela rend le sujet plus abordable, plus vivant, plus proche. Bien sûr, la plupart des contributrices sont des universitaires et certains propos sont plus académiques. Mais dans l'ensemble, j'ai trouvé les témoignages pertinents et intéressants, et pour certains, absolument poignants.

J'ai été « choquée » par le nombre de produits blanchissants, pardon, éclaircissants disponibles : savons, sérums, masques, crèmes, et qui concernent même les parties intimes. J'avais déjà vu ce type de crème dans les magasins asiatiques et africains de Paris et de Bruxelles (je ne suis jamais allée dans des magasins antillais, donc, je ne sais pas si c'est le cas aussi), mais c'était toujours des marques « inconnues » et les produits semblaient pharmaceutiques. En cosmétique, je connaissais la crème Vantex de Fashion Fair, mais il me semblait qu'elle servait « uniquement » à unifier le teint, qu'elle n'était pas vendue comme crème blanchissante. Dans le livre, j'ai appris que L'Oréal, Elizabeth Arden, Pond's, Nivea avaient leur ligne de produits éclaircissants et blanchissants. Pourquoi laisser échapper l'occasion de profiter d'idées et de préjugés archaïques, et des insécurités qu'ils génèrent ? Le marché est juteux. Et j'ai appris l'existence de gadgets destinés à celles (et ceux) qui souhaitent créer une double paupière et ouvrir leur regard (sans passer par la blépharoplastie) : lunettes, colle et autocollants. Moi qui trouve les yeux bridés si beaux, j'ai du mal à comprendre. Mais je ne me permettrais pas de juger.

This book is a wonderful series of personal essays on skin discrimination.
I love that it included most of South East Asia and not just India.
The worst offenders of skin tone discrimination is most often our own family and loved ones.Wish this book could be published in India,I know most of us can relate to the experiences of the people in this book.
An eye opening book on how skin color controls a lot of life situations.Growing up Indian we all know or are the person that had to deal with someone who told us our skin was not light enough.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC

What I liked the most about this read was the day today references made not only from India but from other countries like Japan, China, Thailand, and yes, throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

I enjoyed reading the examples citing the real beauty products along with the models or the actors and the beauty race alongwith the difference on how the glamour industry looks differently based on the gender and as a general rule the female species of the human race has to appear fairer or whiter as compared to the male species.

I like the part where it has been specifically pointed out to the readers as how the mass is made to believe how the most beautiful women in the world would look like by featuring only the white celebrities or models.
Personally, I loved the second half of the book that elaborated more on personal experiences from different perspectives and real life incidences.
This book is such an eye-opener regarding the facts given from the different perspectives of different personalities apart from what people (including the author herself) in India experience when it comes to the 'fairness' obsession.

Thank you #NetGalley for providing me a copy of #Whiter