Why do Chinese women pursue lighter skin?

Afraid of becoming tanned after any exposure to strong sunlight, Zhou Jing wears long-sleeved tops, pants, a visor, silk gloves, a pair of sunglasses and even a mask to prevent any possibility of an "invasion" of ultraviolet rays in the summertime. Never mind the heat she endures from wearing these extra garments; to Zhou, having white skin is way more important.

Actually, Zhou's original complexion is slightly darker than the average Chinese woman, her rather brown skin tone inherited from her father.

"Some people ask me if I am from the Philippines," she said. "I know this is not a malicious question. They're purely curious about the place where I am from. Yet I still feel hurt."

The belief that lighter skin is more "beautiful" is common not just in China, but across much of East Asia. Zhou first became aware of this obsession during her student years. Now 33, she doesn't consider her surrender to popular notions of beauty a good thing. "I've spent a lot of money buying products which manufacturers promise have some magical power to give you fair complexion. In the end, they don't make my skin darker, but nor do they make it any whiter."

Besides her over-the-top dress code for combating the sunlight, Zhou wears sun-block in the office. Even though she has realized that the color of her skin cannot be changed too much, she still insists on trying anything that will whiten her complexion in any way.

Zhou finds it impossible to ignore the omnipresent advertisements for skin-whitening products. "I spent five years studying in the United States, where some of the Chinese students are deeply influenced by Western culture," she explained. "They appreciate slightly tanned skin."

Lee Pei-mei is just one such student. As an exchange student in Hamburg, Germany, she enjoys basking in the sunlight.

"I was a tennis player for my school team, so it was pointless to apply sunscreen," Lee said. "My own values are more closely matched to Western ideals of beauty, so I feel quite comfortable here." Lee told Metropolitan that her stance was respected and even praised in Germany, making her more confident about her own convictions.

In China, however, Lee would still be in the minority. Most Chinese women who study overseas will readjust their values once they return home.

"I didn't care about my skin color so much in the US. I didn't even care about my weight so much then," Zhou laughed. "When I came back to Beijing in 2012, the anxiety of being both as white and as thin as possible surged."

While some criticize the pursuit of lighter skin, others argue that beauty products can make a difference. Jing Yunyi, a beautician in Chaoyang district, has a positive attitude towards this long-running trend. "Many cosmetics can help alter skin color," she said. "For example, a purple foundation can 'fix' yellow complexion."

Liu Ning, an orthopaedist from the PLA Navy General Hospital in Haidian district, suggests women who chase whiter skin at least have a responsible approach to wearing sunscreen. "It is still necessary for people to wear sun cream to protect against sunburn and wrinkles," he said.

Liu believes there are many other ways women like Zhou could make their skin look brighter. "Besides her extremely scrupulous protection from the sunlight, she could concentrate on moisturizing her skin, since dehydration makes skin look lifeless."

According to Liu, Zhou's attempts to change her skin color are a pipe dream. Instead, he encourages women like her to eat fruits rich in Vitamin C, such as lemons and cherries. "These will make Zhou's skin look a little lighter." Liu suggests Zhou could try whitening injections. "But we still have to estimate Zhou's physical condition, to avoid any harmful risks such as renal damage."