Being dark-skinned

I found this story on Facebook. It's so on point in today's society. All credit goes to the author, Serupadi Raani.

This is a personal discrimination that I constantly face being born a dark-skinned Indian girl. I'm constantly pitted against my sister who is fair like milk. The thing is, I'm only proud that I have a beautiful sister. Telling me that " it's a shame that you're so dark and your sister is so pretty (due to being fair)" means nothing to me. It only shows how shallow af the other person is.

 I've lost count how many times on being told not to wear certain colours, or to settle with any karat machas that come my way because my skin colour means I'm not marriageable and not marketable in the marriage market and I can't be used as a liability to be married off to a good family.

 Never did once anyone ask me if I'm happy in my own skin. Never did they once ask nor do I plan to lower my standards and be with any shallow guy who is with me simply because of the hue of my skin. I'm my own woman. My skin colour does not dictate my life path set by me. No one has the right to interfere with my life. This a road that I walk : and I will carve my own path, set my own gravel and build my own bridges. I'm perfectly capable of making my own mark in life. Don't be afraid to confront, to call out others in their stupidity.

Never ever falter when someone uses the emotional blackmail of ' keep up this thimuru butthi' and ' no one will marry you'. You're not obliged to mould yourself for a man's gaze. You may consent to letting a man into your life, but if it's detrimental - kick the bloody bastard out without a second thought. Your happiness comes above everything else.