- “Which race would you not date?”
- “Indian” – overwhelming answer from the infamous street interview video asking strangers which race they would not date.
From reasons of Indians being “smelly” because of curry to “ugly” because of their features, it’s safe to say that those in the Indian Subcontinent haven’t had it easy when it comes to beauty in the eyes of the west. This is not a new thing. The video that I quoted above, straight from memory because I didn’t feel like the video deserved my fact checking skills, has been a main supplier of these racist ideas on the internet of recent years. What was surprising to me was that the people who were spreading this video and agreeing with what was said were in fact of the younger (my) generation. Maybe I’m biased but I always liked to believe that our new generation is breaking the chains of the past. Okay, that may be a little over dramatic, but you know what I mean. Recently however, and I mean RECENTLY, thirst traps and dance videos of Indians or brown teens have gained popularity. Suddenly, people are noticing that brown people, especially girls, are quite attractive. This led to the term “the great shift” because of the sudden shift in perspective. I have to agree, it was very sudden. And try calling me overdramatic for what I said earlier but seriously, “the great shift”? That sounds like something you would learn in a history textbook. Like, is it really that serious that you guys are putting your racist stereotypes to the side because you find yourselves attracted to an Indian girl? Anyways!
Euro-Centric Beauty Standard
Now, as an Indian myself, I will admit it’s not the worst thing to hear people online saying that Indians girls are beautiful. There was a pattern that I could easily find however that wasn’t surprising, but kind of brought us back to square one. Any video of a conventionally attractive brown person now has their comments filled with people writing “the great shift”. Emphasis on the conventional. People from the Indian Subcontinent are very diverse. We may all be brown, but our features, skin tone, cultures, are all pretty different. And of course, I mean that in the best way possible. What I noticed is that most of these videos used as an example of “the great shift” have people that fit the beauty standard. And by beauty standard, I mean the Euro-centric beauty standard. Button nose, slim face, full lips, slim body, etcetera, etcetera. Sure, not all of these features that are known to fit the beauty standard is what you see in the average white person, but more or less, Im sure you get the big picture. The media in history, and even now, have used the so-called “ugly” features of colored people for ridicule. And, incase you were wondering, that is why people like Justin Trudeau are so flamed for doing black-face. Let this also be a reminder that we are living in a world where in the 21st century a Prime Minister of a country such as Canada can get away with doing black-face.
Back to “the great shift”
It seems as if now, people are starting to realize that Indian people aren’t as bad looking as they were believed to be. All the brown folk for that matter. It is important to remember the conventional beauty aspect to it though as it is true. Doesn’t make those who have been bombarded with comments writing “the great shift” any less pretty as those who don’t. It’s just something that we all have to acknowledge in order to change our way of thinking.