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Brown haired white kids never in photos

191 replies

StevieChicks · 16/07/2024 12:00

Just that really.
Seen the new school prospectus. Beautiful blond children everywhere, front cover and throughout, a few mixed race children, fewer black and Asian students (because racism) but without a doubt the least photographed children are kids like mine. Children with naturally brown, mousey or dark brown hair.
It's not the same as racism and I would not for a second think that this trivial matter is in any way similar to other discourses around representation. And maybe I have a chip on my shoulder from the eighties when I was never a Disney princess and had to be the evil witch. It doesn't feel like much has changed.
My son's hair is thick and dark brown/ black. He has very pale skin. I just don't see this as the desired aesthetic. The world still goes mad for blonde children.

OP posts:
Bobbotgegrinch · 16/07/2024 12:21

Just checked the prospectus's and the homepage of the website for the 3 options for college that my daughter had, and there's only one blond white kid to be seen.

I really don't think this is a thing @StevieChicks

Needmorelego · 16/07/2024 12:19

I just had a quick look at my daughter's old primary school.
The photos are a few years old so actually from my girl's time there (she's 16).
No blond children in the photos. One red head - who had the most pale skin it's practically see thru - and several of white skin with brown/brunette hair.
Plus many other children of different looks.
When my girl was in the younger years there were a lot of blondes - the class looked like the Midwich Cuckoos sometimes - but none are in the pictures.

Mojodojocasahous · 16/07/2024 12:18

We’ve not even got a school prospectus!

EmmetEmma · 16/07/2024 12:18

I just looked at my school website (not to be deliberately antagonistic but just because I’d never noticed this and wanted to see if it is borne out by my own experience)

blonde 4
ginger 1
mixed black/white 1
black 1
asian (sub continent) 1
chinese 1
brown hair pale skin 8
brown hair tanned skin 2

maudelovesharold · 16/07/2024 12:18

Maybe it’s your kids’ school which has a bias? I can’t say I ever noticed it with the schools mine went to. They’ve all got brown hair and pale skin, like me and dh. Now I think about it, mind you, none of them ever appeared in a school prospectus….Grin

Allmyfavouritepeople · 16/07/2024 12:17

As a blonde it seems like we are the last hair colour it's acceptable to openly dislike.
I've experienced white privilege throughout my life but received hatred not privilege for my hair colour.

Trinity65 · 16/07/2024 12:17

One of my DSs was in a photograph in a school prospectus Years ago now

Light brown hair and big dark brown eyes

Ereyraa · 16/07/2024 12:17

One of my DC look like this. They are on the front page of the school website.

I think this is something you’re sensitive about from your past, sounds like.

StevieChicks · 16/07/2024 12:15

@Fizzyjuice there's loads of red heads in there! Sorry for the oversight

OP posts:
Fizzyjuice · 16/07/2024 12:14

My kids are ginger.

You don't even acknowledge their existence in your OP.

scarletbegoniass · 16/07/2024 12:13

I think for teens and adults being fair has less of an impact on your attractiveness because it’s more based on other things. For kids, what their cuteness/attractiveness is based on is more limited and I do think there’s a bias for very fair children. Good thing is that I don’t think it lasts as people grow up! Of course some will have indvidual preferences for blonde hair/blue eyes even in adult beauty but they are more things impacting attractiveness. I hope I’ve explained what I mean effectively.

petitdonkey · 16/07/2024 12:13

My dd is in her school prospectus - she is pale with mousy brown hair. (Her older who is blonde and very conventionally pretty has never been featured)

IamnotSethRogan · 16/07/2024 12:11

My kids are blonde blue eyed and have never really appeared in the school prospectus, website has brown haired pale kids on it.

StevieChicks · 16/07/2024 12:10

@Samdrad do you have children? You will notice if they look like mine.

OP posts:
Appledoughnut · 16/07/2024 12:09

Who spends that much time looking at the photos in a school prospectus?

Samdrad · 16/07/2024 12:05

As a dark haired white person, I've never felt that way or noticed a blonde bias