Het gebruik van chemische huidbleekmiddelen onder Ghanese vrouwen in Amsterdam-Zuidoost Aanzet tot onderzoek en debat

Chemical skin bleaching is a widespread and growing phenomenon in countries where people of color live. The most popular bleaching agent is hydroquinone. Hydroquinone­ based products may cause serious (skin) disorders when used improperly for years on end and on a greater part of the body. Well-documented hydroquinone-induced, incura­ble diseases include: Vtiligo, Exogenous Ochronosis, Leukomenanoderma-en-confetti, orange brown discoloring of the nails, and possibly kidney disease and cancer.
Skin bleaching is also growing in the Netherlands. As the Netherlands are a multi-cul­tural society, with anti-discrimination legislation and organizations for the advancement of colored minorities, we wondered why Ghanaian women in Amsterdam-Zuidoost use chemical skin bleaching products and what the nature of this practice is.
Interviews with Ghanaian women respondents show that skin bleaching is used as an empowering device to gain better access to the labour market and the 'love-and-rela­tions market', furthermore to meet (and bend) racist and universal beauty standards and as a way to take up another, better accepted, black cultural identity in order to blend into society and avoid the immigration office.