BLACK BEAUTY - SKIN COLOR AND BODY IMAGES AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLLEGE-WOMEN

Skin color has played an historically influential role in the lives of African Americans. The present study examined the role of skin color (i.e., its lightness-darkness) as it pertained to various body-image measures among 66 light-, medium-, and dark-skinned Black college females. A Skin Color Assessment Procedure was developed to assess various perceptual dimensions of skin color. Although subjects were generally satisfied with their skin tone, the idealization of lightness was apparent in several respects. Those who desired a different skin tone favored being lighter more than being darker. Unlike light- and dark-skinned Black females, medium-toned Black females' held personal ideals that were significantly lighter than their self-perceived color. The majority of subjects believed that Black men found light skin most attractive. Although actual skin color did not predict various facets of body image satisfaction, skin color satisfaction was positively related to satisfaction with overall appearance and with the face. Future research should address the possible mediating role of racial identity vis-a-vis the effects of skin color and racial physiognomy on body image.