FACTORS AFFECTING THE SKIN COLOUR

PREFERENCE AND CONSCIOUSNESS

OF ST. LORENZO SCHOOL OF POLOMOLOK INC.
STUDENTS
2015-2016

This study is prepared by:

Cambarijan, Sanmel Apistar
Dioquino, Marisse Salanio
Rivas, Zorell Sibugan
Tacogue, Mary Kimberly Sulpico

Prepared for:
Sir Wayne Klyde Balbuena

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We, the researchers, would like to magnify our greatest thanks to the talented and kindhearted individuals who helped to finish our work, directly or indirectly; willingly or forced;
thank you. We could like to thank all the respondents who answered the questionnaires honestly
even though it seemed like a hassle or a waste of their time. Thank you.
To our friends that had the same problems but helped anyway, thanks so much. To Maam
Tampus who always seemed to support us and give us a bright and futuristic state of mind, thank
so you much. To the teachers who gave us extra time, thank you. To Sir Wayne Balbuena who
made this research happen and the one who has to put up with our annoying notifications and
questions in the middle of the night or early morning or whichever, thank you very much. To our
parents who supported us from afar financially and emotionally, our deepest thanks. To our
siblings who didnt get in the way and just understood that were very busy, thank you. To St.
Lorenzo School of Polomolok, Inc., we give you our most heart-felt thanks for accepting us as
students, flaws and all, and for giving us proper and advanced education.
For those who were mentioned above and for those that weve forgotten, thank you. We
mean it. And last but by no means least; we thank the Lord All Mighty for giving us the wisdom,
compassion, strength, companions, life and above all the chance to do what we want to do and to
do what I must do. Thank you.

Cambarijan, Dioquino, Rivas, Tacogue

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Chapter 1: Introduction

A. Introduction

B. Statement of the Problem

C. Hypothesis

D. Definition of Terms

E. Scope and Limitations

F. Significance of the Study

Chapter II: Review of Related Literature

Whats the Difference between Colorism and Racism?

10

Origins of Colorism

10

Effects of Skin Colour Discrimination

11

Complications of too much Skin Care

12

Skin Disorders and Related Diseases

13

Impressions of Skin Colour to Job and Career Opportunity

16

Why we have Different Skin Colour and Its Functions

17

Chapter III: Research Method

21

A. Research Method

21

B. Instruments Used

21

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C. Procedure Of Gathering Data

23

D. Treatment of the Data

23

Chapter 4: Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data

24

Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations

36

Bibliography

40

List of figures Used

Figure 1: Students Consciousness of their Skin Colour

24

Figure 2: Ratio Of Skin Colour Consciousness Between Males And Females

25

Figure 3: Student's Ratings on their Confidence Concerning their Skin Color

26

Figure 4: Students Preferred Skin Color

27

Figure 5: Negative Self-esteem of Students When They Can't Achieve Their Preferred Skin Color

28

Figure 6: Students Opinion About Skin Color Affecting their Future

29

Figure 7: Skin Colour Discrimination Among the Respondents

30

Figure 8: Figure 1:Opinion of Students About the Cause of Skin Color Discrimination

31

Figure 9: Student's Opinion About Skin Color Discrimination Affecting their Studies

32

Figure 10: Percentage of Students Having Prejudice About Skin Color

33

Figure 11: Student's Opinion About Whether Or Not It Is Vain To Care About Skin Color

34

Figure 12: Student's Opinion About Whether Or Not the Media has Influenced their Views About
Skin Color

35

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Chapter 1: Introduction
A. Introduction
At age five, children understand what other people's judgement of them. And at age
seven, they show bodily dissatisfaction. How much are those who are at the confusing stage of
puberty. The stage where hormones rage and insults are slightly harsher than the previous years.
Teenagers, now, are more aware on how they look and how they think other people think of
them, whether they fit in or Whether they're attractive enough or not. In numerous reasonable
and bizarre reasons they use varying types of beauty products to enhance and achieve the skin
they want to have; most of them cause unwanted bodily blemishes and irreversible scars. When
the youth sees a person who has a fair or "ideal" skin- which is the white skin, in this case, they
start comparing theirs to the mentioned skin preference. Every individual has their own colour
because of genetic traits but some say that they have their undesired skin colour because of the
total exposure under the sun or they were not blessed to have the skin they ideally wanted. These
issues make teenagers conscious and see different perception of skin tone attractiveness. And
thus, having the wrong depictions of what racism, discrimination and beauty really is.
In history, colorism has occurred where white people are praised by their fellow human
beings. And this scenario makes black/dark skinned people lower their self-esteem because of the
inequality that the society has come up with. With that historical controversy in mind, teenagers
perceive with their eyes that skin colours should be white or pale in able to avoid discrimination.
Social media also affects the influence of the youth, where they see beautiful models or actors on
screen having the ideal-skin-color-of-ones-person. These false advertisements cause more harm
than they carry. When they reach the state where they believe that they arent appealing enough
they succumb to depression and it will result to social abandonment and carelessness for studies
and grades.
In this research, we would like to help teenagers, in different genders; to be aware of how
it can affect their self-efficacy. We will also tackle upon the issues like intimidation and
oppression. The research will supply favourable information about the topic and will act as basis

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to future researchers and further their understanding. This will serve as a personal, selfcongratulatory trophy for us who has worked hard to give a wider view on the topic and to give
light about the youth inside us.

B. Statement of the problem

On this research we want to know the following:
1. How many percent of students are conscious by their skin colour, at what degree are they
conscious?
2. How different are the percent of students that are conscious of their skin colour between males
and females?
3. How many percent of students that is confident of their own skin colour? If yes, at what
degree?
4. What skin colour do students of SLSPI prefer? Is it a light or dark colour?
5. At what rate does skin colour affect the self-esteem and confidence of students when they
dont meet the skin colour they preferred?
6. How do students try to achieve their preferred skin colour?
7. What are the common opinions of the students of SLSPI about skin colour consciousness?
8. How rampant is skin colour discrimination at SLSPI?
9. What are the opinions of students about skin colour discrimination?
10. What is the rate of students being judgemental base on skin colour?

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C. Hypothesis
1. About 80% of students are conscious of their skin colour at somewhat high degree.
2. There will be higher percent in females than in males. About 80% on females and 20% on
males.
3. There will be as small as 40% of students are confident of their skin, which are most at
low degree.
4. Lighter skin will be seen as more attractive or preferred by people.
5. About 60% of students will have negative effects on their self-esteem.
6. They will probably mention sun exposure, skin whitening products and many more.
7. About 75% will agree to our poll survey.
8. Skin colour discrimination will have a rate as low as 5%.
9. About 60% will agree on our poll survey.
10. The rate will be as low as 10%.

D. Definition of terms
1. Body Image- the subjective picture or mental image of one own body
2. Colorism- prejudiced attitudes and/or discriminatory acts against people based on the colour
of their skin.
3. Complexion - the colour or appearance of the skin.
4. Consciousness- the condition of being conscious; knowledge that is shared by a group of
people
5. Discrimination - the practice of unfairly treating a person or a group of people differently
from other people or groups of people.
6. Evolution - the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more
complex.
8. Genes - a unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring.
9. Judgemental- a person judging people base on something observed at first impression without
really knowing the person by himself.

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10. Melanin - a dark brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin and iris of the eye in
people and animals. It is responsible for tanning of skin to sunlight.
11. Pigment - a substance, such as chlorophyll or melanin that produces a characteristic colour in
plant or animal tissue.
12. Self-esteem- a feeling of having respect for yourself and your abilities
13. Self-hatred - intense dislike of oneself.
14. Skew- and oblique angle; a slant
E. Scope and Limitation:
This study is limited only to the students of St. Lorenzo School Of Polomolok, Inc.,
school year 2015-2016. The respondents will be all year levels, from grade seven to grade ten.
Each class must have 15 representatives, randomly generated boys and girls, to answer the given
questionnaire.
The purpose of this study is to examine or to know why the students are too conscious of
their skin colour. For us to know the issues that make teenagers become conscious and concerned
of their skin.

F. Significance of the Study

It has been many years, centuries, since the pale skinned explore conquerors invaded
numerous islands and countries and claimed it as their own. It is believed that pale/lighter skin
colour is equated with (racial) superiority, elegance and power because of what the people with
said complexion has done. This mind-set has been inside people's mind for a fairly long amount
of time and it has become the norm to see people, teenagers mostly, perform whatever means
necessary to attain a fairly pale skin complexion. This research can help better and fix-up the

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Students who are suffering from discrimination and lack of self-esteem by stating the symptoms
and cure of a very long line of skin colour bullying. Hopefully, well be able to teach the bullies
a sense of empathy and lessen colorism.
The significance of this study is to spread awareness and help better people in their sense
of self and confidence. We also want to lessen and give a deeper thought about peer pressure and
societal prejudices that may cause mental and bodily harm to the victims of colorism. We wish to
discover the lengths and capacities of the skin conscious and subdue the hazardous outcomes and
effects that skin color consciousness holds. With this, we can help the students and the school
have one less problem to deal with and bigger our pride and reputation outside and inside the
school grounds. It will definitely bring honor to the school if all students get along and have
more time with their studies.
This study will include the answers concerning whether or not skin color consciousness is
abundant in the teenage part of society. And what psychology it trends upon. Our research will
venture to unfamiliar waters and supply the probable solutions to avoid skin cancer because of
too much whitening cream and sun bleaching. It will also steadily capture the meaning of a
strong sense of self and the difference between true beauty and peer dictated body-image. This
study will definitely raise awareness and slightly lessen skin concerned antics inside and outside
the school. The students will supply what they have learned in school and apply it in their homes
and neighbourhoods. They will teach neighbourhood children, their parents and visitors the
things we researched on, and that their skin color isnt a flaw but a weapon to carve their own
futures.

Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature

Whats the Difference between Colorism and Racism?
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Because many people have not heard of colorism and may be unclear about how it relates
to racism, we want to explore the particular definitions and the relationship of colorism and
racism. Colorism refers to prejudiced attitudes and/or discriminatory acts against people based
on the colour of their skin while Racism refers to prejudiced attitudes and/or discriminatory acts
against people based on their actual or perceived racial status.
In cases of racism, two people of different races but identical skin colours will be treated
differently. In the movie Pinkie, for example, Pinkie is a black woman who looks white. Despite
her white skin colour, Pinky is still mistreated and discriminated against just like the other blacks
in her community.
In cases of colorism, two people of the same race but different skin colors will be treated
differently.
This is how each operates on a fundamental level. Of course there are additional factors
that may complicate each case, for example, other group identifications that could trump race or
colour in specific situations such as family, nationality, gender, occupation, or wealth, etc.
We would like to highlight that well focus more on Colorism, the obvious reason is
because our research is about skin colour consciousness (not that racism is an unrelated topic).
Origins of Colorism
How did colorism surface? In the United States, colorism has roots in slavery. Thats
because slave-owners typically gave preferential treatment to slaves with fairer complexions.
While dark-skinned slaves toiled outdoors in the fields, their light-skinned counterparts usually
worked indoors completing domestic tasks that were far less gruelling. Why the discrepancy?
Slave-owners were partial to light-skinned slaves because they were often family members.
Outside of the United States, colorism may be more related to class than to white supremacy.
While European colonialism has undoubtedly left its mark on countries worldwide,
colorism is said to predate contact with Europeans in various Asian countries. There, the idea that
white skin is superior to dark skin may derive from the ruling classes typically having lighter
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complexions than the peasant classes. While peasants became sun-tanned as they laboured
outdoors day in and day out, the privileged had lighter complexions because they didnt have to
work in the sun for hours daily. Thus, dark skin came to be associated with the lower classes and
light skin with the elite. Today, the high premium on light skin in Asia is likely tangled up with
this history along with the cultural influences of the Western world.
Effects of Skin Colour Discrimination
Promotes a Narrow Standard of Beauty
Colorism has long been linked to restrictive beauty standards. Those who embrace colorism
not only tend to value lighter-skinned people over their darker-skinned counterparts but view the
former as more intelligent, noble and attractive than darker complexioned people. Actresses such
as LupitaNyongo, Gabrielle Union and Keke Palmer have all spoken about how they desired
lighter skin growing up because they thought having darker skin made them unattractive.
This is especially telling given that all of these actresses are widely considered beauty icons,
with LupitaNyongo earning the title of People magazines Most Beautiful in 2014. Rather than
acknowledging that beauty can be found in people of all skin tones, colorism narrows beauty
standards by deeming light skinned and light skinned people only as beautiful and everyone else
as less than.
Perpetuates White Supremacy
Fosters Self-Hatred
While colorism is often thought of as a problem that exclusively afflicts communities of
colour, its origins in the Western world are rooted in white supremacy. Europeans have prized
fair skin and flaxen hair for centuries.
In Asia, fair skin is said to be a symbol of wealth and dark skin a symbol of poverty, as
peasants who toiled in the fields all day typically had the darkest skin. When Europeans enslaved
West Africans and colonized various groups of people across the globe, the notion that fair skin

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is superior to darker skin spread. Oppressed groups internalized the message and continue to do
so today.

Colorism leads to self-hatred given that no one has control over their skin colour. Hence, if a
child is born with dark skin and learns that dark skin is not valued by her peers, community or
society generally, the youth may develop feelings of shame. This is especially true if the child is
unaware of colorisms historical roots and lacks friends and family members who shun skin
colour bias. Without an understanding of racism and classism, its difficult for a child to
understand that no ones skin colour is innately good or bad.
Complications of too much Skin Care
A common and ubiquitous phenomenon: doing things in moderation is what matters.
The situation is the same with skin care. Too much skin care can be counterproductive.
What sounds paradoxical at first sight happens more often than we would imagine. It is most
annoying that the consequences of overdone skin care frequently give rise to product complaints
and in the cases at issue. People still are unaware that there exists such a phenomenon as
overdoing skin care. The following (co-) factors are significant in this context:
Hygiene - Avocado oil is an effective cleansing agent and preserves and stabilizes the
skin barrier. In the case of neurodermitic skin, exaggerated hygienic routines such as the daily
shower with whole body cleansers also promote irritations. Hard water acts as a catalyst in this
context. The skin barrier is constantly exhausted.
Infections-The skin can be predisposed to react to excessive lipid doses. During puberty,
acne bacteria particularly feel comfortable when lipid substances from skin care creams and
make-ups come in addition to the natural sebum of the skin. Accordingly, the acne-prone facial
skin will sooner or later start to develop its obvious symptoms.
Dosage of Lipid Substances- It tends to flare up after an early and overdosed application
of lipid substances - above all if the triggers as for instance persisting germs still are present or if
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consumers haven't paid enough attention to the essential oils contained in creams and food. Also
repeated fruit acid treatments can have a negative influence in this context.
Irritations and Allergies- Preparations with too many different active agents stand for
another and particular type of overabundant skin care. Adverse effects can also develop when
several preparations are used at the same time. In this case, an interaction of different substances
may occur.
Connective Tissue Disorders - It is assumed though that the regenerative properties of
the skin are limited as in the case of sun burns and that the skin becomes increasingly prone to
connective tissue disorders as well as infections and allergies. (Dr.Lautenschlger, 2015)
Skin Disorders and Related Diseases
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition characterized by portions of the skin losing their
pigment. It occurs when skin pigment cells die or are unable to function. Aside from cases of
contact with certain chemicals, the cause of vitiligo is unknown. Research suggests vitiligo may
arise from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress, neural, or viral causes. Vitiligo is typically
classified into two main categories: segmental and non-segmental vitiligo.
The global incidence of vitiligo is less than 1%,[3] with some populations averaging 2
3% and rarely as high as 16%.[4] Autoimmune diseases such as Addison's disease, Hashimoto's
thyroiditis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus tend to occur more often in people who have vitiligo.
There is no cure for vitiligo but many treatment options are available including topical steroids,
calcineurin inhibitors, and phototherapy.

Albinism
Albinism in humans (from the Latin albus, "white") is a congenital disorder characterized
by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect

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of tyrosinase, a copper-containing enzyme involved in the production of melanin. It is the

opposite of melanism. Unlike humans, other animals have multiple pigments and for these,
albinism is considered to be a hereditary condition characterised by the absence of melanin in
particular, in the eyes, skin, hair, scales, feathers or cuticle.
Albinism results from inheritance of recessive gene alleles and is known to affect all
vertebrates, including humans. While an organism with complete absence of melanin is called an
albino.
Albinism is associated with a number of vision defects, such as photophobia, nystagmus
and amblyopia. Lack of skin pigmentation makes for more susceptibility to sunburn and skin
cancers. In rare cases such as ChdiakHigashi syndrome, albinism may be associated with
deficiencies in the transportation of melanin granules. This also affects essential granules present
in immune cells leading to increased susceptibility to infection.
In humans, there are two principal types of albinism: oculocutaneous, affecting the eyes,
skin and hair, and ocular affecting the eyes only.
Most people with oculocutaneous albinism appear white or very pale, as the melanin
pigments responsible for brown, black, and some yellow coloration are not present. Ocular
albinism results in light blue eyes, and may require genetic testing to diagnose.
Because individuals with albinism have skin that entirely lacks the dark pigment melanin,
which helps protect the skin from the suns ultraviolet radiation, their skin can burn more easily
from overexposure.
The human eye normally produces enough pigment to colour the iris blue, green or
brown and lend opacity to the eye. In photographs, those with albinism are more likely to
demonstrate "red eye," due to the red of retina being visible through the iris. Lack of pigment in
the eyes also results in problems with vision, both related and unrelated to photosensitivity.
Those afflicted with albinism are generally as healthy as the rest of the population (but
see related disorders below), with growth and development occurring as normal, and albinism by
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itself does not cause mortality, although the lack of pigment blocking ultraviolet radiation
increases the risk of melanomas (skin cancers) and other problems.

Oculocutaneous albinism is generally the result of the biological inheritance of

genetically recessive alleles (genes) passed from both parents of an individual for example
OCA1and OCA2. A mutation in the human TRP-1 gene may result in the deregulation of
melanocyte tyrosinase enzymes, a change that is hypothesized to promote brown versus black
melanin synthesis, resulting in a third oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) genotype, OCA3. Some
rare forms are inherited from only one parent. There are other genetic mutations which are
proven to be associated with albinism. All alterations, however, lead to changes in melanin
production in the body. Some of these are associated with increased risk of skin cancer.
The chance of offspring with albinism resulting from the pairing of an organism with
albinism and one without albinism is low. However, because organisms (including humans) can
be carriers of genes for albinism without exhibiting any traits, albinistic offspring can be
produced by two non-albinistic parents. Albinism usually occurs with equal frequency in both
sexes. An exception to this is ocular albinism, which it is passed on to offspring through X-linked
inheritance. Thus, ocular albinism occurs more frequently in males as they have a single X and Y
chromosome, unlike females, whose genetics are characterized by two X chromosomes.
There are two different forms of albinism: a partial lack of the melanin is known as
hypomelanism, or hypomelanosis, and the total absence of melanin is known as amelanism or
amelanosis.

Amelanism
Amelanism (also known as amelanosis) is a pigmentation abnormality characterized by
the lack of pigments called melanins, commonly associated with a genetic loss of tyrosinase
function. Amelanism can affect fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals including
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humans. The appearance of an amelanistic animal depends on the remaining non-melanin

pigments. The opposite of amelanism is melanism, an overabundance of melanin.
A similar condition, albinism, is a hereditary condition characterised in animals by the
absence of pigment in the eyes, skin, hair, scales, feathers or cuticle.[1] This results in an allwhite animal, usually with pink or red eyes

Impressions of Skin Colour to Job and Career Opportunity

Skewed hiring
In a University of Georgia study, light-skinned black men had the edge in hiring over
dark-skinned black men, regardless of credentials.
"We found that a light-skinned black male can have only a bachelor's degree and typical
work experience and still be preferred over a dark-skinned black male with an MBA and past
managerial positions," says Matthew S. Harrison, a University of Georgia doctoral student in
applied industrial organizational psychology, who presented his research in August to the
Academy of Management in Atlanta.
"This finding is possibly due to the common belief that fair-skinned blacks probably have
more similarities with whites than do dark-skinned blacks, which in turn makes whites feel more
comfortable around them."
With women job applicants, the findings varied a bit.
"If the credentials were different, in the case of women, the more qualified or experienced
darker-skinned woman got it, but if the qualifications were identical, the lighter-skinned woman
was preferred," Mr. Harrison said.
He surveyed 240 undergraduates -- 72 percent of them were female, and 87.5 percent of
them were white. Students were asked to rate one of two resumes that accompanied one of three
photographs of a theoretical black job applicant whose skin colour was light, medium or dark.
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"Most females, having been judged on aesthetics, may have been more attuned to looking
at qualifications and resumes," Mr. Harrison said. "Women looked to attractiveness only when
the qualifications were equal."
He believes the high percentage of women study participants also may have skewed the
results regarding male job applicants.
"The darker a dark-skinned male is, the more violent and menacing he is perceived to
be," he said, recalling how Time magazine darkened the O.J. Simpson mug shot on its June 27,
1994 cover, making him look more sinister.
Why we have Different Skin Colour and Its Functions
Skin Colour through Genetics
Human skin colour ranges in variety from the darkest brown to the lightest hues. An
individual's skin pigmentation is the result of genetics, being the product of both of the
individual's biological parents' genetic makeup. In evolution, skin pigmentation in human beings
evolved by a process of natural selection primarily to regulate the amount of ultraviolet radiation
penetrating the skin, controlling its biochemical effects.
The actual skin colour of different humans is affected by many substances, although the
single most important substance is the pigment melanin. Melanin is produced within the skin in
cells called melanocytes and it is the main determinant of the skin colour of darker-skinned
humans. The skin colour of people with light skin is determined mainly by the bluish-white
connective tissue under the dermis and by the haemoglobin circulating in the veins of the dermis.
The red colour underlying the skin becomes more visible, especially in the face, when, as
consequence of physical exercise or the stimulation of the nervous system (anger, fear), arterioles
dilate.
There is a direct correlation between the geographic distribution of UV radiation (UVR)
and the distribution of indigenous skin pigmentation around the world. Areas that receive higher
amounts of UVR, generally located closer to the equator, tend to have darker-skinned
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populations. Areas that are far from the tropics and closer to the poles have lower intensity of
UVR, which is reflected in lighter-skinned populations. Researchers suggest that human
populations over the past 50,000 years have changed from dark-skinned to light-skinned and vice
versa as they migrated to different UV zones, and that such major changes in pigmentation may
have happened in as little as 100 generations (2,500 years) through selective sweeps. Natural
skin colour can also darken as a result of tanning due to exposure to sunlight. The leading theory
is that skin colour adapts to intense sunlight irradiation to provide partial protection against the
ultraviolet fraction that produces damage and thus mutations in the DNA of the skin cells. In
addition, it has been observed that adult human females on average are significantly lighter in
skin pigmentation than males. Females need more calcium during pregnancy and lactation. The
body synthesizes vitamin D from sunlight, which helps it absorb calcium. Females evolved to
have lighter skin so their bodies absorb more calcium.
The social significance of differences in skin colour has varied across cultures and over
time, as demonstrated with regard to social status and discrimination.
Their Functions
In the skin, melanin functions as an absorptive pigment. A pigment is a substance that, as
a result of selective colour (wavelength) absorption, determines the colours of many plants and
animals. In humans, the two types of melanin present in the skin (eumelanin and pheomelanin)
are responsible for different skin tone (which is induced by ultraviolet radiation), and the
constituent of freckles.
Eumelanin is a black or brown pigment, and is mainly concerned with the protection of
the skin by absorbing incoming UV radiation. This protective ability warrants melanin to be
termed a photoprotectant (a substance capable of providing protection against radiation from the
sun). Pheomelanin is a reddish pigment, a very weak absorptive of UV radiation, further it also
acts as a photosensitizer (makes your skin sensitive to light), where it increases sun sensitivity
and skin ageing.

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Skin colour is determined by:

The ratio of eumelanin to pheomelanin, where the more eumelanin present, the darker
tone of an individual; The absolute amount and concentration of melanin in the skin; and the size
of the packets that melanin travels in (melanosomes), the number of melanosomes, and how well
spread the melanosomes are.
Melanin is produced in specialized skin cells located at the bottom of the epidermis (top
layer of skin) termed melanocytes. These melanocytes start producing melanin once damage
occurs to the nuclei of cells in the skin, caused by ultraviolet radiation. This radiation can be
either artificially (sunbeds) or naturally (sun) produced, and results in the biological release of
alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (-MSH). -MSH binds itself to melanocyte cells,
inducing the production of melanin within melanosomes. This overall process is termed
melanogenesis. Once produced, melanin is transported to the upper levels of the skin through the
outward growth of keratinocytes (skin cells). It has been found that the amount of melanocytes
generally doesnt vary between people, but the number of melanosomes, and subsequently
melanin, can vary dramatically.
The production pathway of both eumelanin and pheomelanin is becoming better
understood, it is known that the base amino acid is tyrosine, and tyrosinase is an important
enzyme in the process of melanogenesis. Tyrosinase both initiates the synthesis of the two
melanins, and is involved in steps further down the process line.

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Melanin is able to protect the skin from UVR by several methods; it is able to scatter
incoming UVR, absorb it, and can also absorb compounds produced by photochemical action
which would be toxic or carcinogenic.Chapter 3:Research Method
A. Research Method
We used descriptive method for this study. This method is pre-planned and structured in
design so the information collected can be statistically inferred on a population. We used massB.produced
Instrument
Used
questionnaires
to gather information. There are a total of 239 questionnaires that were
given to students of SLSPI.

Name:________________________________

Section:_____

Gender:______

1.

Are you conscious of your skin colour?

__yes ___no
If yes, at what degree? ___low___ moderate ___high

2.

How do you rate your confidence on your skin colour?

__ Very confident
__confident
__ a little bit confident
__ Not confident at all

3.

Are you skin colour discriminated?

__ yes __ no

4.

Do you think media has influenced your views on skin colour?

__ yes __ no

5.

Do you participate in any acts of skin colour bullying or discrimination?

__ yes __ no

6.

If you are discriminated, does skin discrimination affect your studies?

__ yes __ no

7.

Does your confidence lessen when you don't meet the skin colour of your choice?
__ yes __ no

8.

Why do you think other people discriminate other people's skin colour?
__ They are insecure __ They find joy in doing so __ peer pressure

9.

Which skin colour do you find attractive in a person (esp. to your crush)?
__ Light skin colour __ slightly dark skin colour (tan, light l brown, brownish)
__ Dark skin colour (dark, brown, black) __ others

10. Do you think that your skin colour will affect your future like jobs, careers etc.?
__ yes __ no
11. Do you judge people based on their skin colour?
__ yes __ no
12. Do you think its vain when people care about their skin colour?
__ yes __ no
13. How do you achieve your preferred skin colour?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

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Name: Lenard C. Julian

Section: 7 Isaiah

Gender: Male

1. Are you conscious of your skin colour?

__yes ___no
If yes, at what degree? ___low___ moderate __high
2.

How do you rate your confidence on your skin colour?

__ Very confident
__confident
__ a little bit confident
__ Not confident at all

3. Are you skin colour discriminated?

__ yes __ no
4. Do you think media has influenced your views on skin colour?
__ yes __ no
5. Do you participate in any acts of skin colour bullying or discrimination?
__ yes __ no
6.

If you are discriminated, does skin discrimination affect your studies?

__ yes __ no

7. Does your confidence lessen when you don't meet the skin colour of your choice?
__ yes __ no
8. Why do you think other people discriminate other people's skin colour?
__ They are insecure __ They find joy in doing so __ peer pressure
9. Which skin colour do you find attractive in a person (esp. to your crush)?
__ Light skin colour __ slightly dark skin colour (tan, light l brown, brownish)
__ Dark skin colour (dark, brown, black) __ others
10. Do you think that your skin colour will affect your future like jobs, careers etc.?
__ yes __ no
11. Do you judge people based on their skin colour?
__ yes __ no
12. Do you think its vain when people care about their skin colour?
__ yes __ no
13. How do you achieve your preferred skin colour?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

By doing nothing at home

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C. Procedure of Gathering Data

Our team used 239 questionnaires to all of the students of SLSPI. It is one of the easiest
methods of gathering data especially we have a lot of students to assess.
We used the Slovenes formula to arrive at this amount of questionnaires. In choosing our
samples from the population, we used random sampling technique to easily select respondents
which are great in number. It would be the fastest way to select our assenter giving less than 15
questionnaires each section per year level.

D. Treatment of the Data

Statistics helps the researchers to collect, organize, interpret and conclude the data
gathered. It is also a process of experimentation where we will be given the idea of the usual
problems of our respondents. In some reason, this would help us extract relevant information in
order to work out or formulate the numerical description.
In knowing the number of our respondents and also our margin of errors, we used the Slovenes
Formula denoted by the equation:
Where n = number of sample size
N = number of population size: 690
e = margin of error: 5.23% or 0.0523

Confidence Level: 94.77%

690
2
1+690 (0.0523 )

239

Total Number of Respondents: 239

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Low; 32%
No; 42%
Low

Moderate

High

No

High; 3% Moderate; 23%

Figur
e 1.1

Students Consciousness of their Skin Color

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Chapter 4: Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data

Description: The graph shows the consciousness of students about their skin colour. According
to the pie chart, 58% admitted that they are somehow conscious of their skin colour at varying
Degrees

Ratio Of Skin Color Consciousness Between Males And Females

Yes; 90
No; 44

No; 56

Yes; 49

Males

Females

Figur
e 1.2

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Description: The graph shows the ratio of skin colour consciousness between males and females.
According to the chart, 65%, a majority of students that admitted that they are conscious of their
skin colour are females. On the other hand, 55%, a majority of those who said no are males.

Student's Ratings on their Confidence

Concerning their Skin Color

Not confident at all; 20; 8%

Very Confident; 38; 16%

Very Confident
Confident
A little bit
Not confident at all

A little bit; 65; 27%

Confident; 116; 49%

Figure
1.3

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Description: The graph shows Student's Ratings on their Confidence Concerning their Skin
Color. According to the chart, a vast majority of 49% of the respondents admitted that they are
indeed confident of their skin colour.

Students Preferred Skin Color

Light Skin Color; 124; 52%

Others; 7; 3%

Slightly Dark Skin Color; 100; 42%

Dark Skin Color; 8; 3%

Light Skin Color

Slightly Dark Skin Color

Dark Skin Color

Others

Fi
gure 1.4

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Description: The graph shows Student's preferred skin color. According to the chart, a vast
majority of the respondents saw light skin colour as the most attractive or desirable colour.

Negative Self-esteem of Students When They Can't Achieve Their Preferred Skin Color

Yes; 76; 32%

Yes
No

No; 163; 68%

Fi
gure 1.5

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Description: The chart shows the results of the survey about the negative self-esteem of students
when they can't achieve their preferred skin color. About a majority of 68% of students said that
not having the skin color they prefer does not affect their self-esteem.

Figure 1.6

Students Opinion About Skin Color Affecting their Future

Yes
No; 178; 74%

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Yes; 61; 26%

No

Description: The chart shows the results of the survey about the opinion of student thoughts
about skin colour affecting their future. About 78% of students agreed that their skin color will
not affect their future.

Figure 1.7

Experiencing Any Forms

of Skin Discrimination

Description: The graph shows skin color discrimination

among the respondents. According to the chart, a vast majority of the respondents do not
Participating in Any Forms
of Skin Discrimination

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They
Peer
They
areare
Insecure
TheyPressured
find joy in
Doing So

experience any forms of skin colour discrimination or

participating in any forms of skin colour discrimination.

Opinion of Students About the Cause of

Skin Color Discrimination

They find joy in Doing So

They find joy in Doing So; 137

They are Insecure

They are Peer Pressured

They are Insecure; 84

They are Peer Pressured; 18

Fi
gure 1.8

Description: The chart shows the results of the survey about the opinion of students about the
cause of skin colour discrimination. The majority of students opined that the reason why people
do skin color discrimination is because they find joy in doing so.

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Student's Opinion About

Skin Color Discrimination Affecting their Studies

Yes; 32; 13%

No; 207; 87%

Figu
re 1.9

Description: The graph shows the opinion of students about skin discrimination affecting their
studies. According to the chart, a vast majority of 87% of the respondents opined that skin colour
discrimination will not affect their studies.

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Percentage of Students Having Prejudice About Skin Color

Yes; 47; 20%

No

Yes

No; 192; 80%

Fi
gure 1.10

Description: The graph shows the percentage of students having prejudice about skin colour.
According to the chart, a vast majority of 80% of the students admitted that they are not being
judgemental toward skin colour.

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Student's Opinion About Wether Or Not It Is Vain To Care About Skin Color

Yes; 88; 37%

Yes
No

No; 151; 63%

Fig
ure 1.11

Description: The graph shows the opinion of students about whether or not it is vain to care
About the color of their skins.According to the chart, a vast majority of 63% of the respondents
opined that it is not vain to care about skin color.

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Student's Opinion About Wether Or Not the Media has Influenced their Views About Skin Color

Yes; 85; 36%

Yes
No

No; 154; 64%

Fig
ure 1.12

Description: The graph shows the opinion of students about whether or not the Media has
influenced their views about skin color. According to the chart, a vast majority of 64% of the
respondents opined thatt media has done nothing that will influence their views about skin color.

Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

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Summary
This study was done for we are curious about whether skin colour consciousness among
the students of St. Lorenzo School of Polmolok, Inc. S.Y.2015-2016. In this research, we would
like to help teenagers, in different genders; to be aware of how it can affect their self-esteem. We
will also tackle upon the issues like intimidation and oppression. The research will supply
favourable information about the topic and will act as basis to future researchers and further their
understanding.
Our statements of Problems are:
1. How many percent of students are conscious by their skin colour, at what degree are they
conscious?
According to the results of the research, a total of 58% of our respondents admitted that
they are conscious of their skin colour. 32% rated their skin colour consciousness as low, 22%
rated it as moderate, and 3% rated it as high, a total of 58%. The remaining 42% said that they
are not conscious of their skin colour.
2. How different are the ratio of students that are conscious of their skin colour between males
and females?
The results of our research say that 65 % of the respondents admitting being conscious of
their skin colour are females while the remaining 35% are males. Out of all that said no, the
majority of 56% of students are male while the remaining 44% are females.
3. How many percent of students that is confident of their own skin colour? If yes, at what
degree?
Only 8% admitted that they are not confident of their skin colour. The remaining 92% are
broken up as follows: 27% admitted that they are a little bit confident, 49% admitting that they
are confident, and only 16% admitted that they are very confident.
4. What skin colour do students of SLSPI prefer? It is light or dark colour?

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The majority of students, about 52% of them admitted preference to light skin colour.
42% admitted that they prefer slightly dark skin colour and only 3% admitted that they find dark
skin colour as preference. The remaining 3% have other various skin colour preference.
5. At what rate does skin colour affect the self-esteem and confidence of students when they
dont meet the skin colour they preferred?
According to the survey, the majority of the respondents, about 65% admitted that not
achieving the skin colour they preferred does not affect their self-esteem negatively. The
remaining 32% said that it does affect their self-esteem negatively.
6. How do students try to achieve their preferred skin colour?
According to this study, the following are the most common methods the respondents use
to achieve their preferred skin colour.
Sun Exposure Management (more of it to be darker, lesser of it to be lighter)
Skin Whitening Products (soaps, lotions, creams, etc.)
Overall Health Car (bathing, grooming, sleep etc.)
Diet (Eating healthy foods).
7. What are the common opinions of the students of SLSPI about skin colour consciousness?
In this study the following are the poll survey we made for this problem.
Skin colour affects your future. 26% Yes, 74% No
It is vain to care about skin colour. 37% Yes, 63% No
Media has influenced your opinions about skin colour. 34% Yes, 64% No
8. How rampant is skin colour discrimination at SLSPI?
According to the results, 76% of the respondents doesnt experience any form of skin
colour discrimination while the other 24% do not. Majority of them about 77% do not participate
in any form of skin colour discrimination while the other 23% do participate in such acts.
9. What are the opinions of students about skin colour discrimination?
The results of the survey shows the following results
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The cause of skin-color discrimination

A.) They find joy in doing so: 57%
B.) They are insecure: 36%
C.) They are peer pressured: 8%
Skin colour discrimination affects their studies. 13% Yes, 87% No
10. What is the rate of students being judgemental base on skin colour?
According to the results of the study, 80% admitted to be not judgemental base on skin
colour. The remaining 20% admitted to be judgemental base on skin colour.

Conclusion
From the findings we found that a lot of students are really conscious about their skin
colour. We also learned that females have higher rates of skin colour consciousness compared to
males. Most of the students are confident of their skin colour. This is supported by the other
result showing that not achieving desired skin colour will not lessen their confidence. However,
light skin colour is still seen as the ideal skin colour compared to dark ones. This implies that the
students at St. Lorenzo School of Polomolok, Inc. still have a clear evidence of colorism.
Although most students are happy with their skin colour, some students admitted some of the
few ways to achieve desired skin colour.
Still according to the findings of the study, it is showed that skin colour discrimination is
not rampant in SLSPI. This indicates that the schools disciplinary actions and values upholding
are effective. Many students think that people do skin discrimination just for fun. Well, our team
do agree with these opinions for we have observed this phenomenon in the past few years. Also,
the majority thinks its not vain to care about skin colour. It implies that most students do not
care or even bothered by other people caring about skin colour. The survey also showed that high
rates of students are not judgemental. Again, this also indicates the schools proficiency on
shaping the students for the future.

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Recommendations:
Our team realized that skin colour consciousness do happen in our school. Its just not
common. We also agree with this, as we observed in our local classroom skin colour
discrimination and consciousness happens rarely. Skin colour is just our outside shell. What
really matters is inside. People shouldnt be shy of their skin. Their skin is just an outside thing.
It doesnt really matter. The more important thing is who you are. Just be yourself and live your
life. Dont let a small things stops you from living the life you want.
It is recommended that more research is needed in this topic. This study should be done
with improvements in many other communities to prove the accuracy of the results. Many people
out there might need help about this issue. Proper information and guidance to help this people to
manage skin colour consciousness.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://colorismhealing.org/colorism-and-racism/

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http://racerelations.about.com/od/understandingrac1/a/What-Is-Colorism.htm
http://racerelations.about.com/od/understanding/The-Effects-of-Colorism.htm
http://www.clinuvel.com/en/skin-science/function-of-skin-pigment
http://www.dermaviduals.com/english/publications/problem-skin/overdoing-skin-care-too-muchof-a-good-thing.html
http://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2006/12/26/Documentary-studies-renew-debate-aboutskin-color-s-impact/stories/200612260092
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelanism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albinism

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