The color of one’s nipples varies according to the color of one’s skin. Lighter-skinned people tend to have lighter nipples, while darker-skinned people tend to have darker nipples. To add to the many racist products and procedures designed to make the bodies of darker-skinned people more like the bodies of lighter-skinned people — eyelid surgery, eyelid gluing, Asian rhinoplasty, hair straightening, and skin lightening — Theresa W. sent in a product designed to make the nipples more “pink.” These products, featured at The Faster Times, seem to be mostly aimed at the Asian market, many of whom are already quite light-skinned. Below is a selection of the many products one can find.
Bioglo Cherry Pink Lip Nipple Cream:
The rest are after the jump because the packaging shows images of breasts.
Dorlene Pink Nipple Nourishing Cream (if at all possible, make that nipple invisible!):
If you need a nice dose of the wonderful wide world of breast diversity, see Normalizing Normal Breasts(NSFW).
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 71
Lynne Skysong — January 25, 2011
Nice post, but you may want to put a NSFW in the title of the post. You did for the Normalizing Normal Breasts, but not for this post, which also shows breasts.
JBee — January 25, 2011
That's just nuts, and not a product that I ever thought would exist (though I had heard there's procedures to make your anus more pink colored as well). I can't believe the before and after picture, because it looks perfectly fine in the before picture, I can't imagine being made to feel shame for your nipple being too dark. I mean, I've felt "too pale" shame living in the US when so many people were tanning through school, but I never thought about worrying about my nipples.
It reminds me of that new eyelash lengthener treatment: there's so many ways to show people (especially women) that there's something wrong with them that needs to be changed, and that you should buy a product to fix it.
Glossolalia Black — January 25, 2011
It reminds me of reading online erotica. There's not that much erotica out there that doesn't eventually descend into "pale white skin" and "perky pink nipples" territory.
Maya — January 25, 2011
Then there's vagina bleach...
Nicole — January 25, 2011
oh. my.
Bri — January 25, 2011
Similarly, labia dye is also "a thing": http://www.mynewpinkbutton.com
Anna — January 25, 2011
Wow, call me naive, but why do that?
Lips are often darkened or given more saturated color, but nipples (and the aureole are lightened (I honestly expected the products to darken or give them more color saturation)? Both are considered sexual/sensual, both tend to be similar in feel and color, etc. The differing treatment just highlights the arbitrariness of the ways the female body is pushed to appear.
TR — January 25, 2011
Pregnancy often darkens the color of a woman's nipples. Thus, light pink nipples also exude youth, and possibly virginity. So, I think there is more than race going on here. I think this also plays into to the quest for eternal youth.
LifeBreakingIn — January 25, 2011
Nipples do darken with pregnancy to help the baby see and latch on to get the milk. So i agree this is something to do with making women like young girls or virginal. Worries me that people wouldn't realize how it might affect nursing success and health. I'm proud of my darkened baby bullseyes!
WG — January 25, 2011
"Lighter-skinned people tend to have lighter nipples, while darker-skinned people tend to have darker nipples."
Any documentation to support that claim?
Sonagi — January 26, 2011
Wow...had no idea. Do women actually think men care about this? Like any man is going to change his mind and hop back into his jeans after gazing at a naked, aroused body of a waiting woman and deciding that he didn't like the color of her nipples? And like any woman would want to be with a man who rejected a willing woman for such an insignificant detail? I can understand why women wear cosmetics, push-up bras, high heels, and other outer appearance enhancers to attract men, but really, once the clothes are off, the man is yours unless you've got BO or hairy pits and legs.
Gloria — January 27, 2011
eh
I would just like to point out how there is also the stigma in asia that darker nipples signify that you've already had sex/not as pure.
Not everything is about wanting to be 'white'.
Sonagi — January 27, 2011
I don't see this as trying to be white either. Most sexually appealing images of Caucasian women's breasts that appear in various media depict tanned women, not English roses with creamy skin.
Lori A — January 27, 2011
This is truly bizarre, but then so are most beauty rituals. I'm not sure about the assertion at the beginning, though, that "the color of one's nipples varies according to the color of one's skin." Maybe that's the general rule, but it's certainly not absolute, as my pasty white girl skin and dark tan nipples will attest. I've seen plenty of women of color with nipples lighter than mine and lighter than their own skin color. TMI, I know, and anecdotal, but with absolute statements like the one in this article anecdotal information actually counts as refutation.
Theresa — January 31, 2011
I'm honored that my submission is a post, and that it sparked such insightful commentary. This is why I love Sociological Images!
Vartila — August 1, 2011
Reminds me of when my housemate moved out of the place we shared a couple years ago and we or I cleaned out the bathroom cupboard. She had bottles of skin whitener in there. They hadn't been used in a while, but still, the mind boggles. She's Chinese and at the time was finishing a degree at an Australian university.
I don't quite get the way people (read girls, but society itself is at the root of the blame here) always feel they need to change something (or many things) about themselves to achieve one 'perfect' version of beauty.
I am also not understanding how people don't understand that beauty comes in many forms? Maybe I am one of the apparent lucky few brought up in such a way that I see beauty in much and many and also myself.
Nhj_hong — January 3, 2012
Can I buy it online ????
random person — August 23, 2016
Oh so this is how the west thought of us in the olden days
Asian — March 5, 2017
You have no idea what you are talking about, saying "white" bodies. In Asia, fair skin has been a thing for ages.
eggass — April 24, 2018
lmao i cannot imagine my nipples being pink since it wouldnt match my skin tone that cream is crazy lmao
Casey — September 5, 2018
While Asian men or society may be pressuring towards whiteness, many white guys in the west eroticize Asian women. I think men just like a variety of things and try to use triangulation to get womens' attention.
There are always going to be people who want to look a certain way and someone to sell that opportunity. So what if someone wants pink nipples? If its not on every shelf in every store with the pink nipple standard being shoved down your throat then maybe you are just getting too upset over the fact that a product just happens to exist.
Oh, and white women curl their hair - are they trying to be black? Black women straighten their hair - are they trying to be Asian? In that case can you stop acting like a race victim and realize you're being victimized as a woman who is insecure about looks (all but narcs are to some extent) because society says we are not valuable as people and our career accomplishments mean nothing if we aren't sexy?
This happens to all women. It happens a little bit to men but they have no idea. Stop blaming white people or whoever, you should as women band together and tell the beauty industry they can fuck right off with their anxiety marketing. I don't think that will ever happen though.
Alll women no matter what races
Anonymous — January 2, 2019
I am white and I want pinker nipples And I have heard that Asians have a thing in thier culture that prefers white skin But I feel pressure to be tan LOL I am afraid it makes my nipples look too tan It is a never ending battle to be beautiful for alot of women in every culture and race The idea of what is beautiful changes depending on where some one is from Some men like big butts and some like very small butts Beauty is in the eye of the beholder It is important for us as women to remember God made us beautiful just being a woman in itself YAY
Rachel — January 2, 2019
I am white and I want pinker nipples And I have heard that Asians have a thing in thier culture that prefers white skin But I feel pressure to be tan LOL I am afraid it makes my nipples look too tan It is a never ending battle to be beautiful for alot of women in every culture and race The idea of what is beautiful changes depending on where some one is from Some men like big butts and some like very small butts Beauty is in the eye of the beholder It is important for us as women to remember God made us beautiful just being a woman in itself YAY
Pink Nipple Searcher — January 20, 2019
Just one guys view. In response to some earlier comments. They were right about not passing up an opportunity cus of dark nipples.
But at the same time not 100% in it. Some guys love huge boobs and some butt. I personal looked for those pink nipples. Out of the 15 partners I only 1 had pink nipples. And one close to it. I dont know why its so hard to find pink nipples like trying to find a unicorn.
I dont judge women different. Or won't find them attractive. Its just on my top 5 of my list and it's so hard to find. Just like some women judge guys upon size. But working w 90% girls I found so many do. So is me wanting to find pink nipples so bad.
Kaur — June 17, 2019
I do not think that white colour, light skin is sign of beauty. Extreme of anything is bad. Too white skin or too black skin both look unattractive. I love healthy body, mind and skin. There are many misconceptions about women's vagina as well. Virgin women cannot use tampo, it's not at all possible. But what most men think that all females are same. May be they met with same type of false. We are all pink inside the body. DNA of colours change if that DNA living in extreme hot weather for thousands years.
David — August 26, 2019
When a white person copies a black it it racist against black people. (eg white comedian got kicked out of montreal bar for wearing dreadlocks "racist", "blackface" is racist, etc) When a black person copies a white person it is also racist against blacks, eg this article. White people also pay similar money to get tans to look more black as blacks do to look more white.
Those with freckles want no freckles, those without freckles want freckles. Those with straight hair want curly, those with curly hair want straight.
I think the whole business is absurd.
"I can understand high heels, and other outer appearance enhancers to attract men, but really, once the clothes are off, the man is yours unless you've got BO or hairy pits and legs." - comment above... why do hairy pits or legs matter if nipple color does not? Why is it ok to contort and damage your feet with high heels? (I think girls without high heels look better, as less stupidity) Why is a clean person with natural BO no longer acceptable?
Trunkz13 — May 3, 2020
TFW mad about national geographic titties
thepiratebay3 — December 4, 2020
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Alex Peter — December 4, 2020
Yes, every man wants this, I think this is the mindset of the new generation, I don't quite get the way people (read girls, but society itself is at the root of the blame here) always feel they need to change something (or many things) about themselves to achieve one 'perfect' version of beauty. And yes, it enhances the beauty of a woman but its not necessary so you can go and have a look at Visit Sparkyreads!
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Dan — December 25, 2020
I have surmised after about 40 or so years of research on the subject that aerola size based on expansion and contraction, or just due to aerola predisposed size, or due to temperature and arousal also have to do with nipple color, as well as melatonin levels and hair and eye color have mostly to do with nipple and aerola color.
A woman with large very faint pink areolas in a very warm bedroom can walk out on the balcony in her flowing white negligee, open in the front. The temperature outside can be 60 degrees, a 15 to 20 degree drop.
The nipples and aerola contract and thicken to keep the milk supply warm, if she were lactating. The female body has evolved to do this whether there is a baby or not. As it contracts and thickens, the color becomes darker due to the higher tissue density and the closer proximity of hhh melatonin molecules.
As to beauty, I would say as said above, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and most often the highest preference is psycho-genetic unless cultural programming has taken place.
jlnelson — August 19, 2021
Imagine getting this worked up about... nipples.
mcleanross — February 20, 2022
I do not believe that white skin or a light complexion is an indication of attractiveness. Anything that is extreme is terrible. Both overly white and too dark skin is cookie clicker. I am passionate about maintaining a healthy body, mind, and skin. There are a lot of myths surrounding women's vaginal health. It is not feasible for virgin ladies to utilize tempo. However, most men believe that all women are the same. Perhaps they encountered the same sort of deception. We are all pink on the inside. If color DNA is exposed to intense heat for thousands of years, it will alter.
Becky Ann — June 22, 2022
Well I have EVERYONE beat, because my husband says that I have the most perfect nipples. He says that they are the perfect color, the perfect shape, AND that they even taste better than anyone else’s. So…. Nahhh nahh Na Na nahhhhhh.
But seriously, WHO cares about the dang color of your nips. Just be happy they are THERE and that they are HEALTHY (if they are), or pray that they BECOME healthier!! And as long as your partner loves them…. then THAT is ALL that even matters!!!!
Just my opinion. Don’t go attacking me folks!
Nora Dunn — November 28, 2022
White complexion and light hair are not, in my opinion, drift hunters signs of attractiveness. Anything extreme is undesirable. Either overly white or too dark skin is unsightly.
Suddenly Seymour — December 21, 2022
Pink nips racist? I wasn’t aware how self-defeating the argument “my body, my choice” was until now.
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