In this paper, Aishah Khan explores the history and culture behind skin whitening.

Skin-whitening is an age-old phenomenon which has been adopted by white women as well as women of colour as early as 1600 in Japan (Ashikari, 89, 2005) and 1889 in the United States (Mire, par.2, 2005). It is a practise which incites controversy, not only because it is questionable that women across ethnicities wish to appear white and consume these products, but there are also serious health risks that arise due to the use of skin-whitening products…

Asians are not white. African-Americans know this. Hispanic-Americans know this. White people certainly know this. Asians haven’t figured it out yet. We think of ourselves as, essentially, white.

Asians are not white. African-Americans know this. Hispanic-Americans know this. White people certainly know this. Asians haven’t figured it out yet.

We think of ourselves as, essentially, white.

You deserve the world. Demand it. What’s your name? Yes, yours.I used to cut out the part of my name containing the Chinese pinyin (latin letter-spelling of Chinese characters) which was incorporated in my Western name

Growing up, I wanted to pursue acting. To many people, this dream seemed feasible; but to an Asian girl like me, born and bred in Singapore, it seemed like a bizarre dream to have, a dream too far-fetched.

In this article, the girl behind Asiancomeback (a self described "meme activism" account on Instagram) shares her journey to almost 20,000 followers.