White Skin

In my culture, Filipinos consider those who are with lighter and fair skin to be more wealthy and beautiful than those with darker skin. My parents who were born and raised in the Philippines try to influence my sister and I not to get dark or go tanning before we go to the Philippines or meet their traditional friends because the color of our skin represents a kind of status. Most Filipinos have dark skin but those with lighter skin are looked upon with a high regard. This is because if you have lighter skin is thought that you don't have to do much work, or in other words don't have to do hard labor. However, if you do have dark skin that means that you or your family are the workers our in the field, and they have dark skin because of it being burnt by the sun. Therefore, the lighter the skin the higher your status. There are even soaps and lotions that are popular in the Philippines that are used to "lighten" your skin. I think it kind of ironic that while people in the Philippines are trying to not get tan and try to get light skin,  white American's are hitting the tanning booths to get a nice golden bronze complexion.