[Dark_Phoenix]

I think having "dark" skin is associated with having blotchy, overly tanned by exposure over the years, unevenly pigmented skin in this context. I don't find it troubling any more than ads promoting a tan/bronze/dark skin to look "healthy" are troubling.... so because I'm pale I need to buy this-that product to get a "glow" when I'm really darkening my skin to look more beautiful? Um... not very different than lightening, imo.

I think is rather Western to associate the promotion of one skin color over another with racism, it's just like the article said that “The definition of beauty in the Western world is linked to anti-aging,” he said. “In Asia, it’s all about being two shades lighter.” "

So it's not a matter of racism or discrimination any more than prefferring women with younger appearence over older appearence is... it's just beauty. Like your skin can be hyperpigmented and darkened via sun exposure and it can also age this way. So in the Western world we aim at anti-aging and in the Eastern world beauty is aimed at skin lightening.