“That Colour Won’t Suit Me”: A Qualitative Inquiry of Colourism and Colonialism

This research is focused on interrogating the social issue of colourism within the South Asian community and particularly grappling with the discrimination and social ideations surrounding darker skin tones. The MRP centers the stories of self-identified South Asian women who have immigrated to or been raised in the settler state of Canada. My research question asks, what are stories of colourism in the lives of South Asian women in Toronto? Findings in this research touch upon concepts of race, colour, class, gender, socio-economic status, and how it relates to colonialist ideologies. Using a narrative approach to inquiry through interviewing, this research is centered in life stories which examine individuals’ lived experiences and is theoretically framed by critical race feminist and post-colonial lenses. The co-creation of this narrative brings forth the voices of silenced South Asian women who have been hurting for generations, challenging the idea that dark skin is not beautiful.