Hi there,
There is an apocryphal story of an advertisement placed in the matrimonial pages of a North India newspaper: "Family seeks homely, attractive, convent-educated girl for son. Caste no bar. But must be able to drive tractor. Photo of tractor appreciated." That is a joke, of course, but the real advertisements are just as intriguing for Westerners. One feature of a desirable "boy" or "girl" is a fair complexion, often described as a "wheaten" complexion.
The industry which has sprung up to feed the demand for lighter skin in India is worth an estimated US$500 million. Advertisements in magazines and on television drum home the message that a lighter skin gets the boy/girl/job. This is obviously perpetuating stereotypes about beauty, class, and caste as well as exploiting anxieties about body image. Is it ethical? That is the question posed by one group of academics in a story below.
An even more serious issue in the same vein is whether doctors should comply with requests for virginity tests. Like female genital mutilation, this is a practice which has spread to Western countries with migration. A South African doctor argues below that national colleges of doctors should declare that this is completely beyond the pale.
We'd love to get your comments on these stories.
The industry which has sprung up to feed the demand for lighter skin in India is worth an estimated US$500 million. Advertisements in magazines and on television drum home the message that a lighter skin gets the boy/girl/job. This is obviously perpetuating stereotypes about beauty, class, and caste as well as exploiting anxieties about body image. Is it ethical? That is the question posed by one group of academics in a story below.
An even more serious issue in the same vein is whether doctors should comply with requests for virginity tests. Like female genital mutilation, this is a practice which has spread to Western countries with migration. A South African doctor argues below that national colleges of doctors should declare that this is completely beyond the pale.
We'd love to get your comments on these stories.
Michael Cook
Editor
BioEdge
Editor
BioEdge
| This week in BioEdge | |
by Michael Cook | Jan 24, 2015
The Obama Administration has reacted swiftly to a scathing report on animal welfare at a Federal government laboratory in Nebraska
by Michael Cook | Jan 24, 2015
While virginity tests for unmarried women have been universally regarded as unethical in Western countries, the practice is spreading in immigrant communities.
by Michael Cook | Jan 24, 2015
Novel techniques of editing the genome have inspired some British scientists to call for a public debate on designer babies.
by Michael Cook | Jan 24, 2015
In many countries, especially South Asia, a preference for lighter skin predates European colonialism.
by Xavier Symons | Jan 24, 2015
Why wait for the perfect public health system?
by Xavier Symons | Jan 24, 2015
One San Francisco geek is set on 'democratising creation'.
by Xavier Symons | Jan 24, 2015
The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to hear a case on the constitutionality of a new execution method being used in Oklahoma...
by Xavier Symons | Jan 24, 2015
China's government has made its strongest statement yet about gender imbalance.
by Michael Cook | Jan 24, 2015
Third time in a year for the Levenseindekliniek in The Hague.
by Michael Cook | Jan 24, 2015
President Francois Hollande and the prime minister, Manuel Valls, both support liberalising the law.BioEdge
Suite 12A, Level 2 | 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | Australia
Phone: +61 2 8005 8605
Mobile: 0422-691-615
Email: michael@bioedge.org
BioEdge: the latest news and articles about bioethics
.png)
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario