November 29, 2009

"Flesh-colored"

Sociological Images notes the problem with describing objects -- such as this dress in an Associated Press article -- as being "flesh-colored":


See the problem now?


Pssst, white skin is not the default. (Although as many comments at SI note, the First Lady's dress is more gold/champagne than the light pinky-peach normally referred to as "flesh-colored"/"nude" so the AP even gets that wrong.)
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4 comments:

  1. EllipsesNovember 30, 2009 at 7:50 AM

    I always thought that "flesh colored" should refer to a color that is deep crimson in hue... such as actual flesh.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Conservative MountaineerNovember 30, 2009 at 7:18 PM

    Maybe you should sent a note to Websters to have a new addition under Racist (n) - (a) flesh-colored cloth reference.

    Just sayin'.

    Do you people get up every day and think "How can I be offended today?". Or, are you just 'effing miserable in general?

    ReplyDelete
  3. MariaNovember 30, 2009 at 9:34 PM

    CM<

    Crayola Crayons was able to figure out as far back as 1962 that there was a problem calling pinky-peach crayons "flesh" and changed the name. You'd think that after 40+ years the AP could figure that out too. You, however, I don't hold much hope for...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sherry PasquarelloDecember 1, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    and the real kicker is-it's gold colored and-very beautiful!

    ReplyDelete