The lighter side of marriage: skin bleaching in post-colonial Ghana

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	The lighter side of marriage: skin bleaching in post-colonial Ghana
Author:	Fokuo, J. Konadu
Year:	2009
Periodical:	African and Asian Studies
Volume:	8
Issue:	1-2
Pages:	125-146
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	aesthetics women beauty culture industry body arts marriage
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1163/156921009X413180
Abstract:	Skin colour plays a significant role in the lives of women in Ghana. Many Ghanaian women's feelings about beauty, attractiveness and the marriage market are associated with skin completion. Using sixty Ghanaian students and thirty market trading women, this study investigated skin colour (i.e. its lightness-darkness) as a function of social capital in the marriage market. A Skin Colour Assessment Procedure was administered to all participants. The study showed that although participants were satisfied with their skin colour, they believed that Ghanaian men found lighter-skinned women more attractive. The project expands existing scientific and scholarly literature concerning skin bleaching by presenting the implications of skin bleaching from a psychological perspective. App., bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]