Even though we are living in the 21st century, our society is still struggling with bias against dark skin.
For many of us, who are some shades darker than Kareena Kapoor, it is very common of people telling us how we can turn a few shades lighter if we use certain face masks or creams.
Our fair color-obsessed society treats people of dark skin with concerns, pity, mockery and sometimes harassment. It is a sheer case of shaming someone basis the color of their skin.
Recently, when the news of a 21-old Rajasthan resident Mangibai’s suicide surfaced, many were not only heartbroken but also disgusted.
This young woman committed suicide as she was constantly harassed by her husband because of her dark skin.
Married only 6 months ago, she took her life by jumping into a well. According to her heart-broken father, she had no more courage left to take humiliation regarding her complexion at her husband’s hands.
As per the sources, the father has lodged the FIR against his son-in-law, Dinesh Lodha. According to FIR, the husband’s racist remarks about his wife’s dark complexion pushed her to take a drastic step of ending her life to put a stop to the trauma.
But it is not the first time that a woman committed suicide because of the harassment that she faced in our society.
In 2014, Pooja from Gurgaon committed suicide after her husband Virendra and his family made dowry demands saying, “You are kaali, so you will have to bring from money from your parents.”
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And in 2018, a 14-year-old girl took her own life, reportedly after her classmates bullied her and called her “ugly” because she was “dark”. What would sadden you, even more, is the fact that it was the second time she attempted suicide over bullying due to having dark skin, and it happened because the authorities didn’t take her seriously.
While many may suggest that we should raise strong daughters, who don’t lose self-confidence when they hear such remarks. But the truth is, in the real world, people who are victims of these hurtful remarks find it extremely difficult to love themselves, their skin and their body!
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At IFORHER, we are mourning the death of this young woman and praying for strength for those, who are still struggling with body-shaming at the hands of their so-called family and friends. We hope they will not let society break their spirit and continue fighting back for what is right!