“BRIDE WANTED. Should be fair and slim, graduate or preferably postgraduate. Must be from good family with properties. Same caste preferred.”

SO READS a typical matrimonial advertisement that you might see in a newspaper in India. Likely, you could see something similar in many other parts of the world. In India the notice is usually issued by the parents of a prospective groom. Replies may include a photograph of a girl dressed in a bright red sari and wearing a lot of gold jewelry. If the boy’s family approves, negotiations with a view to marriage would begin.

Common Standards of Value

In India requests for a fair bride are very common. This is due to a deep-rooted belief that the so-called lower castes of Hindu society are dark skinned. Recently, a program on Indian television told a story of two girls, one fair and the other dark. The fair girl was cruel and ill-mannered; the dark girl was kind and gentle. A magical reversal took place, and the fair girl became dark as punishment, while the dark girl was made fair. The moral of the story obviously was that while goodness eventually triumphs, fair skin is a desired reward.

Such racial feelings are often far more deep-seated than one may realize. For example, an Asian may visit a Western country and complain that he was mistreated because of the color of his skin or the slant of his eyes. Such actions disturb him, and he feels discriminated against. But when he returns to his native land, he may treat persons of a different ethnic group the very same way. Even today skin color and ethnic background play a major role in many people’s estimation of another person’s worth.

Yes, skin color, education, money, ethnic background​—these have become the standards by which many people judge or, rather, prejudge another person. These are the factors that determine to whom they show favor and from whom they withhold it. What about you? Whom do you favor? Do you consider someone with money, fair skin, or higher education more deserving of favor and respect? If so, you need to consider seriously the basis for your feelings.

No, skin color, education, money, ethnic background, or other such factors are not a sound basis on which to judge another person’s worth.