The Concept of ‘Beautification Since Bachpan’ Has Forced Many Pakistanis Into An Inferiority Complex

Pakistan, a country where unfortunately, beauty is given extreme importance, has seen a number of concepts that are practiced and forced on the people who live here since childhood. Beautification since bachpan is given almost sacred importance in the land where ‘goray rang ka zamana kabhi hoga na purana’.

Beauty and color among humans is an issue that is present all over the world. Countries don’t matter when beauty enters the scene, it is a common human belief now that anything that is white is good and that which is not white is not as good. In Pakistan, the case is similar, probably even worse.

Source: stylentips.com

Source: stylentips.com

When a child is born, the first and most important thing that is looked upon is the color of the child’s skin, whether he/she is fair, tan or dark. From there on, the process of beautification begins taking place. When a child is born, the old and seasoned say bachay ka sarr bithao, khubsurat lagega!” or things like “Kajal ya surma lagao, bachay ki ankhen barri hongi!”

Concepts like these force parents to try and improvise on the natural look of their child, just to beautify them. If a little child, who cannot speak a word, has a good amount of body hair, the beautification process would kick in and the mother would apply and rub ‘aata’ on their skin just so the hair growth decreases.  Draconian beliefs, such as eating coconut while a woman is pregnant, so the child is born fair and not tan, all these things contribute to an extreme inferiority complex in the youth as they grow up.

Source: pakistantv.tv

Source: pakistantv.tv

Since childhood, we work on the child’s looks and as the child grows up, it is fed to him that either he is beautiful or not. If a little girl is white and fair, she would be referred to as ‘angel, fairy or princess’, however, a similar girl, who is tan or dark would not be complimented the same way, instead, her parents would be taunted by everyone on how she wouldn’t get ‘good rishtas’ when she’s grown up.

These old and prehistoric concepts of beauty and standards set up in our society have thrown many into an inferiority complex. People think that they aren’t beautiful enough to be in others’ company, or how they would be judged for the way they look. This ridiculous concept needs to be rid from the society once and for all. For beauty is only skin deep.

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