Physical Attraction: Traits? Or Racism?
I recently overheard a debate between two friends that I wish to share to you. I would like to mention that I personally do not endorse either view and nor do I believe that physical attraction is the only element in any relationship though I think most people would agree that they consider there significant other attractive in some physical sense. Clearly no relationship should revolve only around physical attraction if anything it should be a secondary importance. That said everyone considers different physical traits attractive, some people like one facial type some people like different hair colors and some people prefer certain skin tones.
Racism in America is a huge problem. There are many Americans who consider themselves superior to others based merely on the color of skin. Yet often the finer points of racism are harder to define. When it comes to relationships between a man and a women (or between women and women or man and man) there are many traits which either partner might find attractive or unattractive about the other person. The question which my friends were debating is, does skin color count as a legitimate trait that people can consider attractive or unattractive? A trait just like say, hair color. Or is the color of one’s skin playing a turn on or turn off always considered racist?
In essence the debate came down to as follows.
If a white person finds a person less attractive based on their skin color it is racist. The white person is judging the person solely on the color of their skin and that is cultural superiority or skin color superiority and boils down to a fundamental issue of race.
The other side maintained that racism is in fact based on an individual finding their culture and their skin color making them a better person. An individual can find skin color attractive based on ascetic appeal and it is no less legitimate point of attraction than attraction to one facial type compared to another.
For the sake of this argument it must be assumed that the second argument must prove that an individual does not consider themselves superior to people who they consider unattractive based on skin color, that they are less attracted to a person of color but that does not mean they consider themselves better or superior in any way.
If you are reading along please comment on this article. What do you think? Is skin tone or skin color a legitimate element of physical attraction or is preference for one skin tone over another even in physical attraction a racist act?
Please do comment the purpose of this article is to generate user involvement. I will delete any post that is in anyway offensive or critical. Keep this civil, a problem with racism in America is individuals unwillingness to talk about it and to engage in CIVIL dialog about it.
Also if anyone knows how to set up an anonymous poll please let me know. I would honestly prefer that.
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Post Commentsubhashlaxmin
On February 22, 2010 at 3:59 am
best share
Joe
On February 26, 2010 at 2:51 am
Since when is attraction a conscious and logical decision? That wasn’t a debate your friends were having, but a clusterfvck of claims by individuals who have no business attempting to debate each other.
And the writer did a just a poor job of present the issue.
Patrick Regoniel
On March 14, 2010 at 3:27 am
Personally I get attracted to women not because of color but primarily because of the radiance they project in their face. Some women look appealing more than the others; but this is not necessarily because of their skin. Some women may have lighter skin than others but not necessarily more beautiful. Attraction appears to be not determined by physical appearance but something else.
Nice post and I hope you get more comments to see how people think.
Ann Wigmore
On March 14, 2010 at 2:21 pm
I think what some people are attempting to call
‘racist’ is merely envy or jealously on their part
towards people who don’t look like them .
People have certain asethetic qualities they are drawn
too , as well as a radiance of spirit, as they poster
stated above .
Lexie
On June 20, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Attraction to skin color may seem like its racist, but I don’t think so. There are many more genetic markers to be taken into account, if I say I prefer black men, people assume that I like the skin color, but African American facial structure varies from Caucasian. Heavier brow lines, wider cheek bones, and wider jaws to name a few. Its not really about the skin color, I don’t think, not entirely, (though if you think about it, its virtually the same as “does he like tanned girls, or pale girls” just a preference,) but its more about the physical features that are associated with the skin color.