Bleaching children’s skin, a practice that illustrates the discrimination of black skins

An Ivorian TikTokeuse sparked outrage among internet users by promoting products to whiten children’s black skin. This practice is not only dangerous, it illustrates a deeper social problem: in Africa and elsewhere, the whiteness of the skin remains synonymous with beauty, success and privilege.

Bleaching the skin of babies (and adults), a dangerous practice

Officially, skin lightening products have been banned since 2015 in the Ivory Coast. Unofficially, they remain very popular and one in two women still discolor their skin in Abidjan. These illegally sold products contain hydroquinone, mercury, or corticosteroids and can cause diabetes, hypertension, kidney failure, necrosis, and growth retardation. Very dangerous products, especially since they are often applied to children.

Bleaching and discrimination of dark skin, a global phenomenon

Some outraged Internet users threaten to sue TikTokeuse for endangering others or for administering substances harmful to health. Others point to a deeper problem, well known in Côte d’Ivoire (and around the world): discrimination of skin color, also called “colorism”. Here as elsewhere, the whiteness of the skin gives access to many invisible privileges.

Internet users are therefore calling for action by the Ivorian public authorities to raise awareness on the issue. “Being black is not a handicap! “, As we remember on Twitter.

Photo credit image of one: Pexels