VOA标准英语2013--In Senegal, Skin-Lightening Remains Popular Despite Health Risks

 

In Senegal, Skin-Lightening Remains¹ Popular Despite Health Risks

A typical beauty supply shop in Dakar, complete with a selection of skin-lightening creams and soaps.

"This lotion², it is carrot-based. It doesn't have hydroquinone. It will give you an amazing color," said shop clerk Adama Diagne. She said she uses a similar cream, and she tells clients to avoid the stronger ones that promise fast, dramatic results. 

"It's a personal choice. No one pressures me. Some women want to be black every day, but I prefer to be a shade of brown. It's better for me. I like it," she said.

Women in Senegal say they lighten their skin for the same reasons women the world over say they tweeze, squeeze or alter their bodies - in sometimes dangerous ways - to achieve a certain standard of beauty... to catch a husband... to stand out in the crowd.. .to smooth out imperfections... to get ready for a special event.

Soap seller El Hadji Traore mixes together skin-lightening soaps that come from Ivory Coast, Mali and Ghana.

"This one is called 'three days before the wedding.' It is too strong to use alone. You have to mix it with other products," said Traore.

Women complain that products like this can sting their eyes or burn their skin. The harsh chemicals can weaken the tissue, leading to stretch marks and infections. But still they don't stop.

Senegalese filmmaker Khardiata Pouye Sall was so troubled by the trend, in particular among prominent female public figures in the media, that last year she made her international-award-winning documentary "This Color That Bothers Me." It aired nearly a dozen times on state television in Senegal.

"I used the most shocking images so that women would know what they are exposing themselves to," said Sall. "Many of them know the dangers, but don't think it will happen to them. It is hard to understand why a woman would tell herself that dark skin is not beautiful. It's in their heads. They want to please a man, to be loved. Or they want to please society, to succeed."

Sall said the government needs to better regulate the marketing³ and sale of these products, but also emphasized that educating women really is the only way to make skin-lightening go out of style. 

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 lotion   

n.洗剂

参考例句：

• The lotion should be applied sparingly to the skin.这种洗液应均匀地涂在皮肤上。
• She lubricates her hands with a lotion.她用一种洗剂来滑润她的手。

3 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。