In Asia the well-to-do avoid the sun (you’ve seen them with their parasols) because fair skin signals that you don’t spend your days outside, working. In Europe they embrace the sun because a good tan signals that you don’t spend all your time inside, working.
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June 24, 2010 at 9:48 am
azmyth
Same thing happened in Europe during the Industrial Revolution.
June 24, 2010 at 10:06 am
Did I mention I never study and spend all my time hanging out? « Cephalic Furrow
[…] Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: Giant shoulder theft — cephalicfurrow @ 11:06 AM Tanning signals: In Asia the well-to-do avoid the sun (you’ve seen them with their parasols) because fair skin […]
June 24, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Ryan
And in Japan where working lots of hours is cool, being pale goes right along with it. I think Asia also understands how the sun ruins your skin.
June 25, 2010 at 1:00 am
New York OA Trader | Shared Items From Around The Web – June 25, 2010
[…] What Your Tan Says About You […]
June 26, 2010 at 11:29 am
westwood
Indeed in the past, Europeans preferred pale skin to tanned skin. So I wonder how this signal will evolve? Frequent exposure to sunlight increases the chances of getting skin diseases, once people realize a good life is not only about enjoying and relaxing, but also a healthy life, does that mean we will go back to the old signal? or somewhere inbetween?
August 4, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Being more human | Excess Returns
[…] living, and thus lighter skin is given a premium, but in a service-economy where most are indoors, to signal you are wealthy enough to avoid work, a light tan is desirable. So if robots begin to express emotions, perhaps being reserved will […]