Does light skin privilege exist in somalia?

[Last Laugh]

Oh absolutely. I have the same privilege as white people do in India when I go back home. I have to make a concerted effort not to get married when I visit because I get random marriage proposals from Xalimos I meet. Even though it’s completely stupid, lightskin Somalis are considered more attractive in our culture. I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But I also do believe we’re “featurists” as well. So if a lightskin Somali has all the right facial features then he/she is a 15/10 on the attractiveness scale.

 

[Angelina]

In terms of power, positions and jobs? No. An ethnic dark skin man will have more privileges than a cadcad or Barwani ect.

In terms of women's beauty standards? Yes obviously. Women are bleaching themselves into oblivion to meet this standards and there are more than enough Somali proverbs that prove this.

However, we Somalis value nasab 10x more than light skin. Being lighter skin will not grant you more opportunities than less say someone from the right tribe and connects.

 

[kulane]

Yes and no. Light skin people in Somalia are considered more attractive than brown or dark skin people but that's about it.

 

[Sophisticate]

Bleaching makes them unnatural. And is actually an Asian export that came to Djibouti in the 80s and grew in popularity during Somalia's post-collapse period.

Ethnic minorities in Somalia are mostly a phenomenon in the South, not the North.

And with respect to looks, I noticed that if you have light skin you have to carry it with your features. You also need to be tall with a long neck, dark gums, and statuesque facial features if you want to be considered a paragon of beauty. It's naive to believe that you are only judged on tone alone. It's on multiple dimensions.

I think brown-skinned Somalis look exceptionally beautiful. This coming from someone that actually tans who is more on the lighter end of the spectrum. I look better if I'm darker than lighter. Heck, even my gains in muscle tone look better.

 

[El Nino]

There is a preference towards lightskin women in urban areas it seems, but this not translate well towards men. I think there is a major difference in somali urban areas and the rural areas where vast majority of somalis live. I doubt the average somali nomad is a colorist. This phenomenon in my opinion exist in urban areas.

Most powerful somali politicians are not lightskins and they weren’t historically. Colorism in somali context only means that lightskin women are more attractive. Thats it.

 

[Siikawe]

In terms of power, positions and jobs? No. An ethnic dark skin man will have more privileges than a cadcad or Barwani ect.

In terms of women's beauty standards? Yes obviously. Women are bleaching themselves into oblivion to meet this standards and there are more than enough Somali proverbs that prove this.

However, we Somalis value nasab 10x more than light skin. Being lighter skin will not grant you more opportunities than less say someone from the right tribe and connects.

What about two laandheere ethnics, one light skinned one dark?

 

[Mount23]

Light skin Somalis tend to be wealthier, more intelligent and good natured than dhuxul Somalis

 

[Unicorn]

Of course there is light skin privilege especially for females. Majority of somalis want light skin daughters and will give their boys a pass. Ur conflicting skin tone and tribe. The reason reer xamers arent hyped is because they are not 100% somali and are a small tribe however u wont see somalis calling them ugly like they do to Madows because of their skin tone and hair.

 

[hinters]

Depends on if you're simply lightskinned and full somali, or if you're an cadcad who's mixed with arab and south asian