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WorklifeIndia: How can India beat colourism?

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10/07/2020 GMT

How can India beat colourism?

BBC World Service - WorklifeIndia, How can India beat colourism?

Is India doing enough to tackle prejudice towards darker-skinned people?

“I was told I would look pretty if my skin were lighter.” “My parents constantly worry how they’ll find me a good husband, as I am very dark complexioned.” “I am the fairest in my family… so obviously, more privileged!”

For most Indian women, these are day-to-day conversations in a society where lighter skin tone is considered beautiful, even superior. But in recent weeks, in response to the conversations taking place around the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, several companies have come forward to drop words such as 'white', 'fairer', or 'lighter' from their skin-lightening products.

But will it have any significant impact on the deep-rooted colourism that is part of the Indian culture? And would Indian brands be more inclusive?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the best ways to beat colourism in India.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Nandita Das, Bollywood actor and director; Karishma Kewalramani, founder and CEO, FAE Beauty; Harish Bijoor, brand and business strategy consultant

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