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Post by stella22 on Jan 17, 2006 17:41:03 GMT -5
Has anyone else noticed that the word 'beautiful' is sometimes used in a way that doesn't exactly seem like a compliment. I've noticed that many caucasian people will say that a certain asian/black/indian/med woman is beautiful in way that doesn't seem quite believable. It is like they are trying hard not to be prejudiced, but they feel uncomfortable so they will force themselves to say these over-the-top compliments.
I think it is related to making a black woman Miss America or Miss France. We all know that the black woman doesn't represent mainstream beauty ideals, but the country wants to prove that they are non-racist.
I guess the intent is harmless, but the excessive compliments are unnecessary and seem false. I've been the target of some of these weird compliments (since I have olive skin, typical med hair) and let me tell you that they don't feel like compliments. I've also seen them given, especially to children of other races.
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Post by stella22 on Jan 17, 2006 17:53:02 GMT -5
I remember reading an article once about adoption. The white mother had many white kids and one adoped Asian child. The whole family lived in a white community. Apparently, the adopted Asian child constantly got those strange compliments on her almond eyes, straight black hair, etc.
The white mother could see through those compliments and her child even told her, "maybe the reason why they say all those nice things is because they really think I am ugly."
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Post by anodyne on Jan 17, 2006 18:24:29 GMT -5
You're both making assumptions of what a person possibly thinks when they tell a person of a different race they are beautiful.
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Post by wendland on Jan 17, 2006 18:45:51 GMT -5
Sometimes politesse is just a mask, it's part of anglophone culture. It's the same as "let's do lunch sometime!" and you never see the person again, we tend to use a lot of positive exageration... Yet, it's all quite insincere-- it's to make contact between people be smoother, I suppose... By the way, what is med hair? I don't really know what you mean. I think some of these black (mulatto in the strict sense) women who win the beauty pageants, DO conform to the cultural norms of beauty: They straighten their hair, the facial features tend to be towards caucasian-- if not naturally, it's really easy to get "stuff done".
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Post by aroundtheworld on Jan 17, 2006 20:08:01 GMT -5
Vanessa Williams who was 1st black Miss America won b/c she was the best hands-down. She was a Syracuse honors student and daughter of professional teacher and highly polished. She has blonde hair/blue eyes/olive skin and looked the part of a beauty queen.
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Post by aroundtheworld on Jan 17, 2006 20:09:43 GMT -5
Another Black Miss America: She won b/c she's cute and perky and smart
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Post by Crimson Guard on Jan 17, 2006 20:11:09 GMT -5
Black? Mulatto is more like it.
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Post by buddy on Jan 17, 2006 21:23:21 GMT -5
Yeah I think I know what you mean, people who may be trying to convince themselves that they're not prejudiced, so they say that such and such person is beautiful. But you mean to tell me you've gotten these kinds of comments for looking Med?? Sheesh, you must live in an area where they only think that northern Europeans are white. I say this because I have Med characteristics too, but I don't believe people have given me any "false" compliments regarding the way I look. Maybe I don't notice this type of thing.
Still, I don't doubt that it happens from time to time with people of color who live in a primarily white society.
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Post by gelaye on Jan 18, 2006 4:18:11 GMT -5
Black? Mulatto is more like it. well in american you know that old one drop rule lol (halle berry is not black, no matter what they say at the oscars haha)
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Oldbrit
Junior Member
Infidel
Posts: 67
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Post by Oldbrit on Jan 18, 2006 8:58:03 GMT -5
You're both making assumptions of what a person possibly thinks when they tell a person of a different race they are beautiful. I believe beauty=harmony of features and thus can apply to any phenotype. There was an experiment performed in Britain in the 80's where many photographs of faces were superimposed with adjustments for size (today anyone can morph on their PC) the resultant aggregates were considered quite beautiful. This was done for the four British nationalities. They were all very similar but Irish was closer to Scottish and Welsh closer to English.
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gio
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by gio on Jan 18, 2006 9:54:27 GMT -5
I guess the intent is harmless, but the excessive compliments are unnecessary and seem false. I've been the target of some of these weird compliments (since I have olive skin, typical med hair) and let me tell you that they don't feel like compliments. Are you sure these compliments were not sincere in your case? You don't consider yourself as beautiful?Maybe its the question of self-assurance.
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zapp
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by zapp on Jan 18, 2006 10:24:08 GMT -5
I think this model is a good example... Whats so beautiful about her, shes butt-ugly probably a model just because shes a very dark african.
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Post by nwknights on Jan 18, 2006 12:06:29 GMT -5
"You look good for a ________ (fill in the race/ethnicity)"
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Post by Jack Reed on Jan 19, 2006 0:48:59 GMT -5
Give me a break! It's a compliment. There's a big difference between "she's beautiful" and "she's beautiful for a Black girl". Some people get offended at the drop of a hat.
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Post by alaina on Jan 20, 2006 20:11:53 GMT -5
Give me a break! It's a compliment. There's a big difference between "she's beautiful" and "she's beautiful for a Black girl". Some people get offended at the drop of a hat. Huh?
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