UC Berkeley

"Colonial Faces: Beauty and Skin Color Hierarchy in the Philippines and the U.S." investigates how perceptions of beauty, skin color hierarchy, the globalization of beauty standards, and the ongoing colonial relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. are related. This project takes a transnational approach in order to compare beauty and skin color hierarchy among Filipinas in the Philippines and in the diaspora. It examines how beauty standards are constructed locally and globally, and how Filipino women in the Philippines and the U.S. respond to these standards. It addresses the popularity of skin-lightening products in the Philippines and looks at how Filipino American women are affected by this practice. This project also explores how skin-lightening products are marketed and analyzes the role of mixed-race models in this marketing.