Team Light Skin or Dark Skin: A Literary Analysis of the Impact of Social Media on Colorism and Self-Esteem Amongst the Black Diaspora

Taylor-Forde, Precious

Team Light Skin or Dark Skin: A Literary Analysis of the Impact of Social Media on Colorism and Self-Esteem Amongst the Black Diaspora

Persistent URL

https://dspace.allegheny.edu/handle/10456/54962

Author(s)

Taylor-Forde, Precious

Date Issued

May 6, 2022

Abstract

Colorism has been a historical systemic issue that has affected Black individuals for centuries. However, the introduction of social media in the modern world has provided new means for colorist ideas to spread throughout society in various ways. Previous research has highlighted how intra-racial colorism and discrimination have produced low self-esteem, negative psychosocial implications, and varying effects on skin color perception and satisfaction (Oh et al., 2021). Accounting for the pervasiveness of social media, this literary analysis seeks to analyze the impact of social media on the Black Diaspora, especially concerning self-esteem and skin color. Common themes in the literary analysis suggest that individuals of different skin tones have varying levels of satisfaction and self-esteem. The themes highlighted in the literature pertained to high levels of social media usage and similar demographics in skin color, and age. Additional themes extended to the content on social media and the psychological implication of social media usage. Specifically, the themes present found that darker individuals were inclined to have higher levels of satisfaction and lower levels of self-esteem. Future empirical studies might explore developing effective therapeutic measures to counteract the psychosocial implications that colorism might have on self-esteem and skin color satisfaction in members of the Black community.

Major

Psychology

Honors

Psychology, 2022

First Reader(s)

Chowdhury, Monali