By: LEENA KHAN
Staff Writer
White women have always been catered to, for instance in fashion and beauty. Cosmetic products always match their skin tone and there is no problem finding a match. On the flip side, it has only been in recent years that cosmetic brands are coming out with darker foundation shades to match black people’s skin tones. There are very few brands that focus on highlighting black women’s beauty. In reality, black women do not have the same options as white women—beauty standards. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and skinny are the standard that only focuses on one type of person and is not inclusive at all. Many women have used their beauty as an advantage and a means of empowerment. However, this idea is problematic because beauty is being recognized as the only tool women actively seek to feel empowered. The white beauty standard in American media enforces that pursuing beauty is the only worthy occupation – for instance, if a woman is an accomplished engineer or high profile year, they must be beautiful. The white beauty standard has forced black women to cultivate their own beauty standards in resistance to the white beauty standard. Slogans like “Black is Beautiful” help create a responsive celebration of black beauty.