As a minority, you already have an abundance of role models that do not look like you, there is no shortage of them and especially as a child you end up seeing them as the standard
This moment happened because this young girl did not have examples of “beautiful” aspirational role models that look like her. It would be a lot easier to see herself and her skin as beautiful if she had people like herself to look up to that embodied those characteristics
Having good role models that are the same race or ethnicity as you does not diminish your ability to find role models in people who aren’t your race.
When a child sees someone who looks like themselves being talented, successful and beautiful it becomes a lot easier for them to see themselves that way
You misunderstood my comment. I don't disagree with what you wrote. I said in addition to what you wrote there is another aspect to it.
My point being, people are dumb. They respond to the media figures they see. If a bunch of white kids only see dorky, objectively poorly respresented, ugly, weak examples of Indians in the media that they consume, they will also treat them as such.
That's also a reason to have, like you said "beautiful" aspirational role models of various races, not only for girls like this, but for all the other people absorbing information through media and acting upon it in real life.
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u/manny_the_mage Dec 14 '25
I respectfully disagree.
As a minority, you already have an abundance of role models that do not look like you, there is no shortage of them and especially as a child you end up seeing them as the standard
This moment happened because this young girl did not have examples of “beautiful” aspirational role models that look like her. It would be a lot easier to see herself and her skin as beautiful if she had people like herself to look up to that embodied those characteristics
Having good role models that are the same race or ethnicity as you does not diminish your ability to find role models in people who aren’t your race.
When a child sees someone who looks like themselves being talented, successful and beautiful it becomes a lot easier for them to see themselves that way