Trishelle Edwards

ENGLISH
SCOOL BASED
ASSESSMENT
2018
Topic: Skin Bleaching

Candidate Name: Trishelle Edwards

Centre number:

Candidate number:

Subject: English Language

Territory: Jamaica

Year of examination: 2018

Sub- topic: What are the main causes of Skin Bleaching?

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Table of Content

Content Pages

Cover page 1

Table of content 2

Plan of investigation 3

Reflections:

Entry 1 4

Entry 2 5

Entry 3 6

Group Report 7

Oral presentation plan 8

Oral presentation 9

Bibliography 10

Appendix 1 11

Appendix 2 12

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Plan of investigation

Topic: Skin Bleaching

Sub-topic: What are the main causes of Skin Bleaching?

The topic and sub-topic were both chosen based on what the researcher have been observing

in the community of Windsor Castle. The researcher has observed individuals being rejected

in society, because of their appearance. Persons are often judged, in such a way that they are

often seen as criminals or thieves even if they are good citizens. According to the Oxford

Dictionary Skin bleaching is how a person applies certain substances to the skin to get a

lighter skin tone.

By completing this school based assessment, the researcher intends to gain more knowledge

about skin bleaching, as well as to share the information with others. As a student of English

Language I expect to gain more knowledge about how and when various punctuations should

be used. The researcher will be mainly using scholarly articles, a video and a picture to

illustrate the use and abuse of Skin Bleaching.

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Entry 1

The first piece of source that was read by the researcher was an article written by Dr.

Arusha Campbell-Chambers. The article was entitled “Skin bleaching: Who says lighter is

better?”. The article mainly focused on the definition, side effects, social ranks and

privileges, as well as reasons why people bleach. This article has inspired me to not only read

and include it in my English Language school based assessment, but it has also inspired me to

educate and inform others of all the life-threatening information that was learnt by reading

this article.

The second piece of source gathered by the researcher was a video entitled “Bleaching

Mi Clean Skin” by Savage. In the lyrics of the song, the artiste was basically informing the

listeners of the diverse types of chemicals that he used to bleach his skin, which included

substances such as WOW and Bio-clear. The researcher found no inspiration to take part in

the artiste’s actions as it was obvious that the artist’s physical appearance showed some

serious side effects resulting from the substances used. The music video somehow had an

impact on the researcher as sympathy was felt for the artiste as he was willing to destroy his

skin to merely ‘look and feel good’.

The third piece of artefact was a picture taken from google, of a victim of skin bleaching.

Once again, the researcher was very angry and furious just to see how far a person is really

willing to go just to enhance their physical appearance. It was clearly shown that the victim in

the picture had a limited amount of pigmentation left in her skin. The researcher was inspired

to post an article similar to the on which was used in the school based assessment. The

picture reminded the researcher of many occupants of her community as they were either as

light skinned as the lady in the picture or even lighter.

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Entry 2

In the first piece of source which was an article written by Dr. Arusha Campbell- Chambers,

the author used Standard English, except when quoting the exact words of a person. The

article was very clear and understandable, as the topic was clearly explained and elaborated

on. The author provided the definition of Skin Bleaching, the possible side effects as well as a

little history on the topic.

The second piece of source was an audio done by Savage. The artist used an elevated level of

Creole, as he song to get the attention mostly from the younger generation. The audio was

very informative as lists of chemicals were given in the song which was used by the artiste to

lighten his skin. The artiste also made it clear that he only bleached his skin to mainly get the

attention of women.

The third piece of source was a picture in which the researcher took off the internet. The

picture showed a lady who was a victim of skin bleaching. The side effects of the substance

in which she used to lighten her skin tone was visible in her physical appearance. The lady

looked like an elderly lady that lives in a rural area. The graphics of the picture was very

clear, although the background could clearly show that the victim of Skin Bleaching was

living in a rural community.

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Entry 3

The researcher chose the topic Skin Bleaching for her English Language School Based

Assessment. The topic has helped the researcher to become a better person because of the

many ways in which the topic has inspired the researcher. The topic has inspired the

researcher to not only educate but also to warn other people of the many dangers and side

effects that Skin Bleaching may cause. By doing the research on this topic the researcher is

now better able to give logical reasons and information as to how skin bleaching will feel or

even look good at first but it does great damages to parts of the body that you may not be able

to see with your naked eyes. Some people bleach their skin to build their self-esteem,

enhance physical appearances, and according to the audio done by Savage, some people may

even bleach their skin to get the attention of the other gender. The topic and sub-topic has

shaped the researcher’s attitude by giving the researcher a sense of pride, and the courage to

not be ashamed of the colour of my skin.

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Group Report
The School based assessment guide was read and analysed before the researcher

could go ahead and collect the three pieces of sources, which all related to the topic of Skin

Bleaching. The researcher then wrote the Plan of Investigation, which was basically one

hundred words telling reasons why the topic and sub-topic were chosen. The researcher then

wrote the reflection which consisted of three entries. The first entry, which consisted of three

paragraphs each telling how the pieces of artefacts have either affected, inspired or possibly

reminded the researcher of something. The second entry consisted also of three paragraphs,

commenting on the languages used in the different cases. The third entry had only one

paragraph telling how the sub-theme or topic have helped the researcher in becoming a better

person or possible shape the researcher’s attitude, after which there was the task of writing

the report.

The sources were collected by using the internet, to find a related picture, music

video and article to the topic of Skin Bleaching, and copy and paste the information to

Microsoft Word. The Plan of Investigation, report and the three entries were written based on

the researcher’s knowledge and understanding. The researcher is very elated with the pieces

that were collected. This is so because, the pieces were used to educate the researchers of the

many disadvantages that are often overlooked by the users.

The researchers have learnt both individually as well as collectively, as there

were sections of the school based assessment that had to be done using only the researcher’s

knowledge while there were sections that needed the group members’ suggestions. The

researchers were in fact delighted to be able to work as a group, because the researcher had

the pleasure of amalgamating our ideas to perfection. The researchers found that the groups

were very effective working together, as everyone in the group had their own way of

contributing to the group.

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Oral Presentation Plan

My name is Trishelle Edwards and I will be presenting a poetry piece on the topic of Skin

Bleaching. The category will be in the form of a dub poem. The topic of skin bleaching has

been a very burning topic within my community so it will be my pleasure to have the

opportunity of using it as a topic of research. The artefacts that I have gathered have not only

educated me as an individual in society, but it has also widened my knowledge. The language

registers that I will be using in my presentation are both formal and informal. Reason being is

that, the researcher tried to keep in mind that this is an English School Based Assessment, so

the most dominant language should be Standard English. But of course, my culturally driven

language is in fact “Di good old creole”. My presentation will be about teaching or warning

individuals about the many illnesses and effects that skin bleaching may cause.

So, sit back relax while you listen to my dub poem entitled ‘Skin bleaching’, written by

Trishelle Edwards.

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Oral Presentation – Poetry

Chorus (rep x2) Verse 2

Skin bleaching a di teaching You a whiten you skin

So u must have ears to hear You no think is a sin…?

Skin bleaching a di teaching God no please…............

So relax and hold a chair Today me will see you,

You black like a tar

Verse 1 Tomorrow me will see you,

Skin bleaching can cause many illnesses You white like chalk

Some you can see, Me CONFUSE!

and some weh you no know, You a get acne and stretch marks

You a say you look white Just fi fit in a one crew

And cool like cucumber Me CONFUSE!

But the substance a go kill you faster than

sugar, this a di golden rule……………. Chorus (rep x2)

No falla! Skin bleaching a di teaching

Me say no falla! So u must have ears to hear

Skin bleaching a di teaching

Chorus (re x2) So relax and hold a chair

Skin bleaching a di teaching

So u must have ears to hear Verse 3

Skin bleaching a di teaching Those who have an ear let them hear

So relax and hold a chair Me say those who have an ear let them
Hear………...!
This a the golden rule………………
No falla!
Me say no falla!

Chorus x2

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Bibliography

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120808/health/health1.html

https://www.livestrong.com/article/65941-definition-skin-bleaching/

http://guyanachronicle.com/2014/02/08/harmful-effects-of-chemical-skin-bleaching-and-
some-safer-alternatives

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_whitening

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Appendix 1
Article on Skin bleaching: Who says lighter is better?
By Dr. Arusha Campbell-Chambers

Skin bleaching is the use of chemical substances to try to lighten skin tone or complexion by
reducing the amount of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the main substance that gives the skin
its colour. It helps to protect the skin from the damaging effects of sunlight, like sunburn,
skin ageing and skin cancer.
Darker-skinned individuals generally have more melanin and may have slightly diverse types
of melanin than fairer-skinned people. This gives darker skinned individuals more protection
from sun damage. Therefore, when individuals bleach their skin, they are reducing their own
natural protection from sun damage. Some of the side effects of skin-bleaching products
include:
• skin thinning
• acne
• stretch marks
• visible blood vessels
• skin redness and irritation
• easy bruising of the skin
• skin darkening e.g. around the eyes and on the knuckles
Social rank and privilege
The practice of skin bleaching has existed for many years worldwide. Historically, lighter
skin has been a symbol of beauty, social rank and privilege throughout the world. In 1901,
toxic skin-whitening soaps were marketed as antiseptic soaps and, in the 1950s, deaths were
recorded from using these soaps. Some Japanese female entertainers (Geishas) painted their
skin white while some Chinese women swallowed ground pearls to try to lighten their skin.
Health officials in Jamaica say skin bleaching has been going on for decades. In the
Caribbean, lighter skin has been seen by many as associated with a higher social status since
the days of slavery. There have been popular phrases like, 'Nutten too black nuh good', 'tar
brush ketch im', 'black ugly bwoy', 'high colour' and 'nice browning' which are still being
used in society.
Media photos and advertisements often portray individuals with lighter complexions as being
more glamourous and desirable. There are even ads on YouTube targeting children with skin
whitening products to help them become a 'star'.
An Asian beauty website went as far as to state that 'flawlessly milky skin is to die for'. Some
songs blasted on the airwaves continue to promote skin bleaching. There are others who have
used their lyrics to discourage this practice and promote self-pride.
Why people bleach
A study by Christopher Charles on Jamaican skin bleachers found the following reasons why
they bleach:
• To remove facial blemishes
• To make their faces 'cool' as a result of peer influences
• To lighten their complexion
• To follow a popular trend
• To have the visual stimulus of a bleached skin because it makes them feel good.
Churches, schools, media, health-care providers and everyone in general, need to spread the
message that we should all be comfortable in our own skin. We need to emancipate ourselves
from mental slavery, educate people about the dangers of skin beaching and promote equality
in this beautiful island where we are supposed to be 'out of many one people'.

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Appendix 2

Victims of Skin Bleaching

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