this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2026
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Colourism is different from caste. We're not Hindu, so we don't have castes, but I was told as a child how it was a shame that I and my oldest sister got darker skin, not nice light skin like our other two sisters. Boomer generation in my family still says things like, "Look at white things when pregnant so you have a white baby."
They love the idea of one of their kids marrying a white person, but hate the idea of them marrying a black person.
The nature of endogamy is such that, in my experience, the first preference is that their family member marries someone of a similar South Asian background and social standing. Marrying someone Indian outside of those bounds is the next preference and then marrying someone non Indian. In all of these categories colorism is at play.
Think of medieval clans using marriage to form ties or to consolidate wealth and influence via marriage. Marriage is seen almost as utilitarian with individual wants and needs set aside for the collective.
It's an ancient way of thinking and I don't doubt for a second that it'll be eradicated with time as it has been in many parts of the world that successfully defeudalized who did not have to deal with foreign occupants further entrenching a feudalistic mindset.