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Racism found in Rural Indian Household

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Fair skin and marriage to good and handsome boy are complimentary in nature………….
The first step of arranged marriage was taking place in the village where I was doing my field work. Yes, there is nothing different about it. As I came back from the field, I had to sit outside till all the discussion took place. I guess that it did not go well because the girl did not match the beauty parameter of our society.
After few days of this incident, on the occasion of  festival called Makarsankranti  (onwards the days become longer than night) I did wear sari and go to temple like every girl in the village did One statement that crossed my heart and can remember vividly was that, “ with this fair skin, you will get good husband and in-laws”. I acknowledged that I have fair skin, but never cared about it. My aim from childhood was get job about which I am passionate. If society is taking only the skin color into consideration then it is looking down on the other talent that the girl possesses it.
The host family always had a protective attitude towards me. It had whole list of do’s and don t’s before I left for the field. One of them was that always be on alert that you have a fair skin, which is prone to number of harassment from the opposite sex. For this solution was to get married because then it will not be a problem anymore. With Sindoor and Magalsutra, the society will respect you. Unlike in urban area, there are many eyes watching on you in the village. It is pretty common in urban area to wear little bit of make- up. However, it was judged from case to case. So they considered if I am doing it is as I have a fair skin to show off. On contrary, if individual with dark skin does then she would be considered a laughing stock. The girl of household used to envy me because she was constantly compared with me. I used to feel bad about it and could not comfort her at any point of time.   I also found it tough to answer why was not married till now and is your father not worried about searching a good boy. I always smiled would shyly say that I have to complete the education and earn a living. The females in the village, used to counter by saying that what about your family life. This disagreement of thoughts was also a part of my field work. A girl is not seen beyond household chores and rearing children. This leads to nest assumption that if girl is not being married till a certain age then there is some issue with the girl.

Our society has made it difficult for girl or woman to live with dusky or dark skin tone. The fact that everyone has a whole set of unique DNA is always overlooked. Every girl in the village, to be satisfied, applies a skin brightening cream. She is not allowed to be who she is. Even if a lot has written over this topic but still we fall back in same trap. Ultimately, it causes a hindrance for her to reach the highest potential of girls and women.

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