Journal Entry #1

   I really found the visual description of globalization from the second reading from chapter 2 of E&Z, "The World Is Flat" to be powerful. It shows how a country like India, which has had a history of being dominated and colonized by world powers, is becoming an economic powerhouse. Globalization has allowed many individuals to gain economic status and begin to level the playing field with Western civilizations. I agree with the authors argument that the world is becoming increasingly flat on a national level, but this article does not address the effects of cultural globalization on those individuals who drive such economic prosperity. Prior to this course, I never thought about the issues with globalization that chapter 6's "Yearning For Lightness" addresses. I now think it is extremely important to consider how damaging globalization can be, if corporate greed is left unchecked. 

   As globalization opens up foreign markets, the opportunity increases for corporations to take advantage of the different cultural values other people have. Lighter skin, for many, has been associated with a higher economic standing. As American culture is spread, many people wish to emulate it and are willing to use products such as skin lighteners to appear more beautiful, regardless of the side effects such products have. The book claims such consequences include "eczema, bacterial, and fungal infection" (pg. 168). I was never aware that such products were being used around the world and I think it is extremely dangerous for the emotional and mental health of individuals from these cultures. We shouldn't be using our Western economic leadership to take advantage of other humans through degrading their value as a human because of their skin color. We should make a conscious effort to ensure that people of all colors feel beautiful and comfortable in their own skin, literally. 

   With unlimited resources, I would hope to run an awareness campaign detailing the harmful effects of such lightening products. I would hope to encourage individuals to continue to attempt to better themselves economically and participate in the increasing flat world, whilst not harming themselves. I think governments could require beauty companies to openly disclose the side effects of their products. However I think that in order to fix the situation, it is necessary to change the cultural values that lighter skin is superior. This could be done through simply advertising competing beauty products that women could use that do not lighten their skin but promote embracing their natural beauty. I think it is highly important for Western celebrities to use their influence to promote the beauty of natural skin tones to help change the idea that lighter skin is in any way superior.