Beauty Products
‘Fairness’ creams in India that've had a racist impact on girls and women.
When systems, services, or products are intentionally or unintentionally developed with the goals of the designer or company in mind more than or rather than the psychological and physical safety of end-users, this can be considered as unethical design. Designs that undermine people’s wellbeing by encouraging destructive behaviours or maintaining inequities are also examples of designs that exploit vulnerability.
Let’s take the example of ‘Fair and Lovely’ face cream. In India, the beauty standard for women is to have white skin. As a remedy for dark skin tones, there are a skin-lightening creams that reinforce the idea that brown skin is undesirable and success and attractiveness are associated with lighter skin tones. Such products, and advertising campaigns that promote them, reinforce damaging and discriminatory beauty standards, often resulting in low self-esteem, particularly in young adults.
Seen in:
India
Keywords:
Skin, Personal Care
Submitted by
Dr Deepshikha Sharma
Associate Professor & Head, Manipal University Jaipur
India
Submitted on
April 9, 2023
This was one example of unethical design.