Generational and Gender Differences on the Perception of the Attractiveness of the Darker Skin Complexion by Filipinos in Metro Manila

Abstract

Filipinos are said to have high esteem for the lighter skin complexion, and lower esteem for the darker one. By manipulating the skin colors some digitally created photographs of non-existent models, this paper empirically and quantitatively explored this Filipino attitude by surveying 527 respondents from Metro Manila, the metropolitan capital of the Philippines. This research was able to validate the Filipinos’ higher esteem for lighter skin complexion in general. However, generational variation was detected in the sense that Generation x respondents have a higher esteem for the lighter skin complexion, while Generation z respondents no longer have. Furthermore, gender variation was also detected in the sense male respondents have a wider divergence on how they highly esteem the lighter skin complexion against the darker one, compared to their female counterparts. This paper is significant in empirically documenting this Filipino esteem for the lighter skin color, as well as in pointing out that such esteem is shaped by generational and gender variations among the respondents.