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Rep. Ilhan Omar on Why She's Fighting the Multi-Billion Dollar Skin-Whitening Industry
Cosmopolitan via MSN ^ | 2/16/21 | Ilhan Omar

Posted on 02/23/2021 1:36:02 AM PST by Libloather

For decades, the beauty industry has sold the narrative that lighter skin is more beautiful. Movies, television, print magazines, and nearly every other medium convey the subliminal message that your value is tied to your skin-tone. We’ve seen the media lighten and retouch images of celebrities of color, from Beyoncé and Priyanka Chopra to Kerry Washington and Lupita Nyong’o. This message sends ripple effects around the globe that lighter skin is more desirable; and this leads to real-life consequences. Many women use creams and soaps to fit into societal expectations of what they should look like. It’s important for us to not only condemn this idea that lighter skin is better, but we also need to understand that using skin-whitening products can have lasting and damaging health effects.

This isn’t just my personal opinion - similar sentiments have been echoed by countless women in my Minnesota district who have been personally impacted by this $8.3 billion industry. Many of our minority communities, especially our African and Asian communities, have suffered the repercussions of these skin-lightening products.

Skin-lightening creams often contain toxic chemicals, such as hydroquinone and mercury, that can lead to discoloration, damaged skin, kidney damage, and - if you're pregnant - birth defects, including neurological damage in early childhood. And because this industry is under-regulated, many of the women who are directly marketed to by the companies that create these products aren’t even aware of the side effects and permanent health issues that can occur. The amendment I introduced in July 2020 aims to change that: We need widespread awareness of the dangers of these creams and lotions to change the narrative surrounding them, and to protect those most vulnerable in our communities.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Health/Medicine; Local News
KEYWORDS: omar; shwoogtones; skin; socialist; somalia
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To: RoosterRedux

That doesn’t make White people look bad.
Spreading hate and division is the name of the game.


21 posted on 02/23/2021 3:30:28 AM PST by EEGator
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To: Libloather

Another day another round of amazement at what the left considers a priority.


22 posted on 02/23/2021 3:31:23 AM PST by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
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To: Libloather

Don’t hate us cause you ain’t us


23 posted on 02/23/2021 3:33:02 AM PST by mrmeyer (You can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him. Robert Heinlein)
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To: EEGator
White dress, white skin, umbrella that is being used to prevent white skin from tanning...


24 posted on 02/23/2021 3:33:55 AM PST by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

She was probably thinking about Math too...
Or serving me matcha tea and sushi.


25 posted on 02/23/2021 3:37:10 AM PST by EEGator
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To: EEGator

Do Koreans drink matcha tea and eat sushi as well?
IDK


26 posted on 02/23/2021 3:38:22 AM PST by EEGator
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To: Libloather

What ever happened to “My body, my choice”?


27 posted on 02/23/2021 3:38:51 AM PST by Sir_Humphrey (Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people -Socrates)
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To: Libloather


28 posted on 02/23/2021 3:40:05 AM PST by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
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To: Libloather
During Black History Month and all year-round, I hope we can celebrate every shade of Black,

You're at least a half century late, Ilhan. The "Black is Beautiful" awakening took place in the USA back in the 1960s.

29 posted on 02/23/2021 3:46:16 AM PST by Will88 (The only people opposing voter ID are those benefiting from voter fraud.)
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To: mrmeyer

Indeed they do. Pure ENVY. Sad.


30 posted on 02/23/2021 3:47:13 AM PST by FES0844
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To: Libloather
"Skin whitening" is,IMO,incredibly silly...just as surely as "skin darkening" (meaning tanning beds and tanning lotions) is.

But if someone wants to do either who am I to stop them?

31 posted on 02/23/2021 4:03:48 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (Trump: "They're After You. I'm Just In The Way")
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To: Libloather

Another POS who should be indicted for FELONIES!


32 posted on 02/23/2021 4:04:42 AM PST by high info voter
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To: Gay State Conservative

Watta bout skin oranging?


33 posted on 02/23/2021 4:11:43 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2

I’m against it...Orange Man Bad!!!!


34 posted on 02/23/2021 4:12:53 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (Trump: "They're After You. I'm Just In The Way")
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To: Libloather

No industry promotes products that their customers don’t want.
The customers want lighter skin,so the cosmetic industry devises a means to make skin lighter.


35 posted on 02/23/2021 4:20:02 AM PST by BuffaloJack (Neither safety nor security exists in nature. Everything is dangerous and has risk.)
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To: Libloather

There is no part of your life too small and personal for progressives to not assert outrage over and use coercion to regulate.


36 posted on 02/23/2021 4:20:53 AM PST by The Free Engineer
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To: Libloather

Probably took off in the multi-trillion dollar Hollywood entertainment industry and emulated in the community. As is the case so often.


37 posted on 02/23/2021 4:23:42 AM PST by jughandle (Big words anger me, keep talking. )
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To: SheepWhisperer

Barry Soetoro did his part with the 10% tax on tanning (melanining) bed salons.

Melanin is beautiful, baby!


38 posted on 02/23/2021 4:28:18 AM PST by moovova (Yo GOP....we won't forget.)
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To: Libloather

They just want a piece of that “White Privilege.” If successful in making the change, they will get skipped over in job promotion, pay full tuition in college, get attacked randomly on the street, be forced to go to “Whiteness” seminars, and be fired for “Looking Racist.”


39 posted on 02/23/2021 4:31:14 AM PST by I want the USA back (The nation is in the grips of hysterical insanity, as usual.)
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To: Libloather

Blacks do not like other blacks who are very dark skinned


40 posted on 02/23/2021 4:33:07 AM PST by setter
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