Desires of whiteness. The cosmetic depigmenting among
African women in Italy and Congo
The cosmetic use of skin whitening substances (mercure, hydroquinone,
steroids) by African women has been supported with documentary evidence
in various research works which disclose its health risks. However research
works which deal with social and economic repercussions of the issue have
been reported to a lesser extent. I interpret my study as an attempt to investigate
these aspects which implicate the social building of beauty as a concept and
its representation. The following data have been collected in Italy and the
Congo RDC by means of inspections carried out in Italian ethno-cosmetics
shops, and Congolese markets and by interviewing immigrant women in Italy
as well as both men and women who make use of skin whitening products in
the Congo as well.