Attitudes to tanning

[Pheasantlysurprised]

So the hot weather is here and it popped into my mind!

These days many people claim to avoid the sunlight for health or other reasons, with growing awareness of premature ageing and skin disease. When I was young there was much less focus on the dangers of UV damage, and sunbed use was rife!

However, these days it is more common to witness people insisting that they always wear protection in the sun, or avoid it completely. 'Getting a tan' is looked down upon as a rather 'stupid' thing to do and many now associate it with low education/intelligence or class (grotesque categorisations, nonetheless).

So I thought about this, then realised that most people with a good bit of money and status ALWAYS sport an apparently authentic all over tan, and this is generally presumed to have associations with yachts, luxury holidays, skiing and the likes.

So how do these two worlds collide? If a blatant suntan has associations with poor taste and low intellect, why do we see so many higher status individuals sporting them? Accounting for the obvious fact that money and status do not necessarily mean that an individual is intelligent or tasteful, of course!

Wasn’t it the case in years gone by that having a tan was seen as undesirable as it meant you were lower class, working out in the fields in the sun during the day while pale skin denoted a wealthier lifestyle relaxing in the shade. I believe the French aristocracy even used to draw blue veins on themselves to appear even paler, and of course people used white powder.

I'm as pale as they come(irish freckly skin) and I don't sunbathe whatsoever. I wear a light fake tan in Summer and loads of spf 50. I sit in the shade if I'm outside.

So I thought about this, then realised that most people with a good bit of money and status ALWAYS sport an apparently authentic all over tan, and this is generally presumed to have associations with yachts, luxury holidays, skiing and the likes.

I don't think I have ever associated someone's tan with their wealth. Most young people these days are faking it. Half of them work down McDonalds.

Well it is true about tans and at least some wealth/status.
We were looking through the facebook photo's of an old friend who we are soon to catch up with. The images were him and his high earning associates in the music industry. Every last one of them was deeply tanned, it wasn't just the fine clothes and watches!

I din't know that about drawing on blue veins

I don’t really spend my life trying to link up how tanned people are with how I categorise them by class. Who cares? I don’t tan my skin because it’s unhealthy. I also put sun cream on my kids to protect their skin.

I think a lot of people (especially on this forum) would be a lot happier in themselves if they stopped twisting themselves up to try to categorise everything as ‘this is working class, this is middle class blah blah.’ Who cares? Tanning is generally accepted as bad for your skin nowadays. If you want to do it go ahead but don’t presume it will somehow raise you to middle class status or make you appear more wealthy - and if it did why would it matter?

Maybe rich people get spray tans to look thinner?

I don’t really spend my life trying to link up how tanned people are with how I categorise them by class.

YES I SPEND MY WHOLE ENTIIIIRE LIFE THINKING ABOUT THIS, lol.
Maybe take some time from MN love, if it's affecting you that negatively.

But it's also true that non wealthy people have tans?

not sure they're spray tans. It seems plenty people still go for it!

Most younger people I see around town are pretty untanned these days though. I'm glad a lot more people are embracing their natural skin tone (across the board) in favour of health.

😂

It’s not affecting me negatively love. You’re the one in all caps. I just think all this ‘this is upper class, this is working class’ nonsense is a bit sad. But I hope you figure out which class a tan is so you can add it to your list of class signifiers.

But it's also true that non wealthy people have tans?

I know, but there is a presumption that those who intentionally tan are 'stupid', which is interesting.

In threads about how to look well groomed etc many comments advise the OP to get a tan, whether real or not. So I take it people often associate a tan with wealth and good grooming too. I think we are a confused culture!

the all caps were intentional, if the thread upsets you, simply avoid it.
I know you dearly want to create a good old MN pile on, but I'm sure a nice fizzy drink next to a rotating fan will cool you down much better

A light glow of ‘oh I’ve been in the sun a bit on my yacht but obviously I’m smart and won’t overdo it’ is the one.
And just generally using fake tan and pretending to be darker than you are.

fake tan hates me, i wish someone would perfect it. I do think I look nicer with a touch of golden to my skin, even though logically it's unimportant.
Imagine the success of a non patchy, perfect, waterproof fake tan. 6 months longevity. Nice!

I know they were intentional. And I imagine all your smiley faces make you feel like you’re really winning! Good luck with your tanning (or not) depending on your class.

The deepness of the tan orangeness and the general overall look.

There's a difference between a 'chavvy' tan and caught the sun from from veing outdoorsy/sporty. Then you've got the yacht look, which is obviously different to chavvy, through the overall look.

Imagine the success of a non patchy, perfect, waterproof fake tan. 6 months longevity. Nice!

This confuses me, there are loads of good tanning products out there.They are successful and worth billions in revenue…
Professional spray tans are also available.
You’re using the wrong stuff or applying it incorrectly.

People are more sun smart now, and most people want to stay looking fresh faced. That tops a natural tan. I think people accepted their fate of getting wrinkles in their thirties back in the day, or thought looking tanned was more important than looking young but now looking good for your age is key. And sun damage being a massive creator of wrinkles is common knowledge. The only person I know who actively tries to get a tan is my MIL. As soon as the sun is out she is in it, using a bit of factor 10 oil spray… pictures of her in her 20s and 30s look great but she just turned 50 and easily looks 60 - once you hit 40 it will catch up with you and your face will age at double the rate. That’s enough to encourage me to stick with fake (I’ve had no trouble finding good quality, natural looking products) and apply my SPF.

I think many people just look better tanned. I look healthier, it changes my whole complexion and I look less tired.

I don't really think it's anything to do with class tbh.

I don't really see the attitude that people who tan are stupid either. People who get burnt are stupid and people who let their kids get burnt are possibly negligent (bar a one off event). It is possible to tan slowly and relatively safely.

Plus depending on your ethnicity it can be hard not to tan, both my DC have tans atm.

I put factor 50 on them in the mornings before school/nursery and they wear sunhats. They spend a lot of time at the park at the weekends but I always go home before lunchtime and don't take them out again until after 3/4pm.