The Influence of Skin Color on Heterosexual Black College Women's Dating Beliefs

Abstract

Black women's skin color perceptions were identified utilizing qualitative methods. The primary goal was to identify the relevance of these perceptions on their understandings about dating preferences and related beliefs about appropriate scripts using a black feminist thought framework. Twenty-eight self-identified black women attending a large university in the Southeastern United States were interviewed for this study. Lighter skin was perceived as being more attractive and associated with three themes about dating: (a) positive personality traits, (b) increased value in dating contexts, and (c) sexual appeal to men. Therapeutic considerations for addressing skin color concerns with black female clients, including addressing within-group differences and validation of skin color values, were addressed.

Keywords:

• black women
• skin color
• therapy
• attractiveness
• sexuality
• dating