The Silent Hierarchy of Skin colour
Husna Khan Hashi :
Despite significant progress toward equality in the modern world, skin colour continues to influence how people are perceived, judged, and treated. Subtle biases and long-standing cultural ideals often favour lighter skin, giving it unspoken advantages in social, professional, and personal spaces.
Media, workplaces, social norms, and global trends all reinforce this hierarchy, making it a persistent part of daily life.
Understanding the ways colourism operates and confronting these invisible prejudices is essential for building a society where individuals are recognised and valued for their character, abilities, and humanity rather than the shade of their skin.
Although society has made strides toward equality, skin colour continues to shape perceptions, opportunities, and treatment in subtle but powerful ways.
A quiet hierarchy favours lighter skin, giving it unspoken advantages across social, professional, and personal spheres.
Rooted in history and reinforced by media, culture, and family attitudes, this bias influences self-esteem, relationships, and career prospects.
Confronting colourism and reflecting on these hidden prejudices is essential to create a society that values individuals for their character and abilities rather than the shade of their skin.
Only by challenging this enduring hierarchy can we move closer to true equality, inclusivity, and respect for human dignity.
The influence of skin colour is not a new phenomenon. The history of colourism is rooted in power, class, and social hierarchy.
Lighter skin has long been associated with privilege, while darker skin was linked to labour and lower status.
Colonial rule intensified these biases, making lighter skin a marker of opportunity, education, and social standing.
Even after independence, the stigma did not disappear, colonial era preferences for fair skin persisted and became deeply embedded in society through advertising, cinema, and popular culture, transforming historical inequality into a lasting social belief.
Media continues to reinforce this bias by repeatedly presenting lighter skin as the standard of beauty, success, and desirability, while darker skin remains underrepresented.
Films, advertisements, social media, and celebrity culture collectively shape perceptions of attractiveness and social value, sustaining a cycle in which lighter skin is celebrated and normalised as an ideal.
These beliefs also seep into private life. Colourism is often learned at home through subtle comments, comparisons, and family attitudes about skin tone. From childhood, praise or pity based on complexion teaches an unspoken hierarchy of worth.
These beliefs become especially visible in marriage discussions, where lighter skin is treated as a condition for acceptance, leading many to internalize shame.
Because this bias comes from family, its emotional impact is deep, shaping self esteem and identity long into adulthood.
Colourism also extends into professional spaces where perception influences opportunity. For instance, employees with lighter skin may be unconsciously perceived as more confident, approachable, or capable.
These perceptions can affect hiring decisions, promotions, and interactions with clients or colleagues. Although the bias may be subtle, over time it affects careers, earnings, and professional growth.
This influence is not limited to workplaces; it also permeates everyday social life, where skin colour continues to affect interactions and relationships. Dating, friendships, and social acceptance are often influenced by complexion.
People with darker skin may face subtle rejection or lower visibility in social circles, while those with lighter skin may receive unspoken privileges. Together, these patterns reinforce the idea that worth and desirability are tied to appearance.
Moreover, the hierarchy of skin colour impacts how individuals perceive themselves. Those who feel their skin tone is less valued may struggle with self-esteem and confidence.
In a world dominated by social media and image-focused culture, people often modify their appearance to conform to ideals of fairness.
As a result, these pressures can cause stress and anxiety, shaping identity in ways that go beyond physical appearance.
Despite increasing exposure to diverse cultures through globalisation and digital connectivity, Eurocentric beauty standards remain dominant.
Social media trends, international fashion, and lifestyle influencers often reinforce the idea that lighter skin is more desirable.
Consequently, this creates a worldwide echo of colour-based preference, showing that the hierarchy of skin tone is not limited to one country or culture.
Therefore, recognising and challenging colourism is essential for creating a more equitable society.
This requires conscious reflection on personal biases, questioning cultural ideals, and promoting diversity in representation.
(The writer is civil servant,
UK citizen)