The historical and cultural influences of skin bleaching in Tanzania

Abstract

Skin bleaching, a practice to chemically lighten the skin, has become increasingly more common around the world in the past 30-40 years. In Africa, the practice is especially problematic because users, especially women, combine dangerous caustic agents (automotive battery acid, washing power, toothpaste, cloth bleaching agents) with common bleaching products that are high in mercury and lead; together, these increase the risk for severe health problems, such as irreversible skin damage, skin cancer, leukemia, and liver or kidney failure. Despite these great risks, skin bleaching is prevalent in Africa, with estimated rates rates nearing 30% in East Africa. Little research has examined how the historical legacies of slavery, colonization, and westernization in East Africa may have shaped internalized dominant cultural ideals, resulting in the dangerous practice of skin bleaching. This chapter takes an exploratory look at the institutions of slavery, colonization, westernization, and neocolonialism in East Africa and argues that these institutions may have placed Tanzanians in a color-conscious society. This also may have fueled potent skin-color ideals that have resulted in efforts to assimilate to dominating groups. This examination has great potential to inform our understanding of current skin-bleaching practices and the related prevention or intervention efforts underway in Tanzania. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.