'If you are dark you better have an a$$' Dark women on unhealthy competition over light skins at places of work

 Days ago media personality Yvonne Okwara called out the Kenyan mainstream media industry for favouring light skinned dark over dark girls.

According to Yvonne, dark girls have to work twice as hard for the same job.

Partly on her Instagram she wrote

‘We are all talking about black lives matter. But we also need to reflect on our own culture in this part of the world. Colourism.

Darker skinned girls and women are treated differently.

We have to work twice as hard, be twice as smart to get ahead, because, what else do we have going for us, right?

Because, inadvertently or otherwise this is the standard that has been set: light skin= beauty= opportunity= work = wealth= good marriage = beautiful children.

It is these attitudes that have fueled the skin lightening industry , where girls just get tired of fighting the stereotype, of proving themselves, of starting from a disadvantaged position, and so give in to the craze.’

She went on to add

‘We may all like to focus elsewhere, but charity begins at home.

Before you stand up for the BLM movement, before you judge men and women for lightening their skin, telling them to love their skin.

why not examine what got us here and how we got here?
On a personal note, it’s not been easy for me. Especially in this industry.

I’ve seen the privilege that light skin has accorded others. I’ve seen them get away with murder, when I’ve been held to a higher standard.

I’ve been expected to be smarter because, “you don’t have the looks so you’ve got to use your brain instead” It hasn’t been easy.
It’s exhausting at times, but it’s also rewarding. But it needs to change. ‘

 Kenyans seem to agree with her and below are some of the responses with some narrating their personal experiences.

judithmwobobia: That is the truth. I have seen it in my career too in journalism. Being darker means you have to prove yourself a lot more than your lighter skinned counterparts. And while exhausting, I say it has pushed me to take my craft a lot more seriously and get better. It is mighty sad the double standards.

But I pray that the generations to come will appreciate differences and embrace them equally.

In the meantime, I will raise my daughters to know that they are queens who need to work hard and deserving of great things regardless of their skin colour.

petronillahorina: @okwarayvonne This reminds me when I was in high school not long ago my dad would tell me “You need to work hard you see like Martha Karua people who are not so beautiful have to be smart so that they get recognized.”

It left a scar . I haven’t forgotten that and I can’t wait to remind him. I sure am smart(very smart) but that shouldn’t be because I am not pretty. I know I am beautiful regardless.

monrose_murugi: Thanks for highlighting this issue @okwarayvonne , I’m also a dark darkskinned journalist looking to break into the industry and Its been really difficult.

Our brown skinned counterparts have the upper hand and although I’m happy for them, I’m sad that we have to be discriminated based on skin colour💔.

Sure, the society needs to change I remember a place I used to work and the manager would consider light skinned ladies if you are dark then you should be smart upstairs or better have an ASS😣😣 its not easy if you work at front office.

mis_viee: Even worse for mothers ..a friend of mine was asked ..”unamchapa kwani mama yake ako wapi?” She was just trying to discipline her child who was being stubborn in church …we’ve got to be louder about this colourism thing.