Joyojeet Pal has created a petition to Unilever as below.
“Unilever currently markets a product called ‘Fair and Lovely’ which in its advertising and product information equates fairness with beauty. Even if the product reflects an already existing social belief among people that fairer skin is an indicator of better physical appearance, a company making a product supporting such a notion and making money out of it is socially irresponsible, and treading a racially discriminatory line. If the product should continue to be sold, it should desist from comparing fairness with good looks overtly in its title. In fact, a company of Unilever’s international range of products and revenues should not be selling such a product at all.” –Joyojeet Pal
Watch Not Fair, Still Lovely video online
If you agree with Pal, you can sign the petition here.
Video Source: YouTube, Nighi Videos
We should all first work to reconstruct our own beliefs about fairness and its relation to beauty. Being an idealist though I want to say that this notion of beauty is changing in a few odd places. For example, in the film industry where all the actresses were all the “fair” girls, we see the introduction of dark (for the lack of a better word) girls. A great example, Priyanka Chopra is a rising star and her complexion is atleast somewhat closer to the complexion of the average Indian woman.
I think way too much importance is attached to physical beauty. It is so transient. How long does it really last? All of us will eventually go through the cycle of becoming wrinkled, and going bald (assuming we live long enough).
I feel think the problem is more cultural and social rather than economical. It is extremely depressing that a product like fair and lovely could even be successful in India, let alone FLOURISH so much that it is the leading beauty industry. The society plays a huge role in keeping it that way. If our societal notions were righteous there is little chance that the industry could be so successful. Cultural and societal constructs about beauty should change and more than likely the economy will have to change to stay alive.
PLEASE FIGHT FOR DAILY FOOD TO THE POOR…
SEND PETITIONS TO UR LOCAL MINISTERS OFFICERS TO ERADICATE POVERTY SOCIAL JUSTICE…
INDIA HAS MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES WHICH NEEDS GREAT ATTENTION BY ITS PEOPLE…
SHAME ON U PEOPLE.. JUST FOR CHEAP PUBLICITY…
Hey,
Interesting observation.But I feel everybody has the right to sell and buy what they want(story/product).Sentiments hurt is really hard to understand…U cursing may hurt others sentiments.Anyways…..
DJ take it easy man…….
be gud.
Thank god..there is someone who is saying that
fairness is not equal to beauty…
Hope telugu people and all the telugu movie world start learning it and not torture girls..
dj,well said man….
It is shameful to see these things happening when we have bigger issues to worry about and if we can ,resolve those things.
who cares what a company names itz product and sells..everybody does that !!!! thatz what companies do….
stop worrying about these trivial things and start doing something important.
moreover just because a company named itz product it doesnt mean anything for god’s sake.You have to be secure about yourself more than anything else.Just because a company named itz product and selling,it doesnt make you feel less beautiful……..
Bigger picture please……
I RESPECT PEOPLES OPINION N THEIR FEELINGS HOWEVER JUST ASK URSELFS — IS IT SOMETHING WE SHOULD SPEND OUT TIME DISCUSSING ???? OR IS IT FILLS ANYONE STOMACH AT LEAST???
OFCOURSE I HATE ANY KIND OF DISCRIMINATION — HOWEVER I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BUY A BUN FOR HUNGRY RATHER ENJOZYING PIZZA IN AN AMERICAN RESTAURANT DISCUSSING ABOUT ANIMAL RIGHTS IN INDIA … THAT’S MY PRIORITY.. LETS DISCUSS N IF POSSIBLE HELP TO HAVE BASIC HUMAN NEEDS FIRST…OUR FELLOW INDIANS ARE STILL BEYOND THEIR REACH TO HAVE A SINGLE MEAL A DAY…SORRY IF THIS HURTS ANYONE..
well said dj……u rock…..some fools copying the cheap acts from the west in sueing and these petetions etc….
its the cause of westernization in india…
along with some ve aspects of modernization, u also wud expect such -ve shadows too….
Nice video.
dj and srini,
I agree there are more important issue than this. But brother development means not only economical it is also about how people think and lot of other aspects and we should concentrate on all issues. We should not miss other directions of development.
The video reflects the core problem in the way society thinks. I saw many girls who feel insecure because of there skin color. Many boys chase and look for fair girls. And all other girls are insecure. Well educated people also do this thing.
@ Dj
What’s wrong in learning good things from western people?????????
And what is the negative point in the video?
Pease
Shaik
@Shaik
“”The video reflects the core problem in the way society thinks. I saw many girls who feel insecure because of there skin color. Many boys chase and look for fair girls. And all other girls are insecure. Well educated people also do this thing.”"
FIRST OF ALL U HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HUMANS CANT BUILD HIS|HERSELF ON THEIR OWN. THE FIRST THING A HUMAN SHOULD DO IS RESPECT HIM|HERSELF FOR WHAT THEY ARE..I FELL PITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO RESPECT THEMSELFS..
IS EX PRESIDENT DR.KALAM IS HANDSOME? STYLISH??IS MAYAVATI OR RAJINI KANTH HAVE GREAT COLOR????
BEAUTY COMES FROM HEART N STYLE COMES FROM UR WORK..CONFIDENCE COMES FROM UR ACHIEVEMENTS..
IF U CANT REALISE THE TRUTH N LIVING FOR OTHER PEOPLE THEN I AM HELPLESSS..
Well thats the reason the ex-president was single his entire life. He should have atleast thot abt his looks[no offense at all].
Nowadays looks does count alot.
Dear dj, although I agree with you to a large extent that there are really important issues to be discussed. I really have to ask this question; please tell me you are human? Because mostly all humans at some point or another care about what other people think about them. That is why most people feel insecure about themselves, you may not want to admit it but its true. Even though you truly respect yourself and have really high self-esteem, you will at some point crave for attention or some sort of notice to say that that you are good looking or even you exist. That is human nature. The fact that we live in a society and it is important to build relations for professional or intimate reasons it is truly important to know what other people think about us. The fact that its a problem that fairness= beauty is because being fair or dark is something we truly cant control (unless u count plastic surgery). Its important because if you think according to the commercial as it does have some racial implication and its important to notice that so we don’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again and realize that the persons personality is more important than their fairness.
Hi,
I think its how you think and present yourself infront of another person that matters most.
Iam a dark skinned girl, never had any problem with what anyone thought about me. In fact, my cousin and my sister who had significantly fair skin than I have, really had trouble finding marraige alliance. My cousin even has inferiority complex when she is with me.
My own grandparents differentiate me and my sister based on our complexion. Hey, but once you have your own style, and confident about it and YOU ARE NOT BOTHERED BY YOUR OWN COMPLEXION, who cares what anyany one says?
Believe in yourself.
And by the way, I use Fair and Lovely regularly since may be when I was 6 mo old, I still am a dark skinned girl, and have not changed my skin coulor like Beyonce’ did.
Since when did it become the responsibility of a company to soothe peoples insecurities. “Fair and Lovely” has been a trademark product for decades. Personally I have never thought this product enhanced my skin color, but when I did use it I just had a feeling I might be fairer than I usually am. I really don’t care about my skin color anymore since I live in the states now and how fair is really fair here LOL.
The product as a whole has enhanced quite a number of people’s insecurities about their complexion by just adding some much needed confidence. I have known people who used and still use this product.
Stop trying to make a statement that makes no sense what so ever. If you are insecure that your skin color is not to par then it is you who needs to rethink your priorities.
Piece of Junk!!!!
being living in america i feel the difference indian products are ment for india people. western products are ment for western people skin. when i used the brands i have rashes. indian product is best to use. after staying in america i feel the difference.i still use indian soaps and oils and beauty cream. its about the skin type we have. poor people and rich people all use same products. why u people say this poor and rich all are human beings.
There is no need to reconstruct any thing, if you are ugly accept it and if you can change try to……