According to psychologist Damon Navandi, the phenomenon is partly a remnant of colonialism.
- To commit violence on oneself with chemical means and sometimes corrode one's group affiliation, legitimizes and maintains the prevailing order of power based on the whiteness norm.
A hierarchy where the privileged are white rich men, he says.
Minority stress
Damon Navandi believes that the constant pursuit of an unattainable ideal can create so-called minority stress.
It is a type of stress that can occur when a person is repeatedly exposed to, for example, discrimination and exclusionary norms.
However, he emphasizes that the individual should not be blamed, but points to a more structural problem.
- A simplified way to explain the psychological aspect is the pursuit of survival - being close to your perpetrator comes with some perceived benefits.
Hear more about skin whitening in the clip.