I think I have tanorexia. Could there even be such a word? I don't know. All I know is that I quite enjoy going to the tanning beds when I cannot get natural sunlight. I just got back from a tanning session tonight, and I sat down to think about how it makes me feel. Why I would actually take the time and money to leave my house and drive to the tanning salon. Simply put, it makes me feel good about myself. I like the look of tanned skin, and I feel more energized after the vitamin D and UV exposure.
The appeal of tanned skin is an interesting question in itself. Tanning is such a societal construction of beauty. In the victorian times, white skin was seen as beautiful because it meant that you were wealthy and didn't have to work in the sun. But this seems more about status than actual beauty. In a world where social status is not blatantly obvious, tanned skin is seen more beautiful on anyone than really white skin. I think it is because we associate the sun with being healthy, and being outdoors and active. Someone who has a healthy looking glow looks like they spend time outdoors playing sports or doing yard work.
All I know is that after a week of not tanning, I start to feel the itch that I had better go and get some "sun".
Skydiving in Australia
So Cool!
Thank God the Parachute Opened!
I'm steering
Safe and Sound
Awesome! Though I am half deaf at this point!
2 comments:
what a interesting view! the whole obbsesion with pale that was in style until the 21st century. the whole point of being fair-skinnned was to show that you were of a wealthy family with such a comfortable life style that you did not have to work in the sun. i went tanning once, and that was only because my sister paid for me to go with her. after filling in the little form they give you to determain how long you can tan for, i was allowed a maximum of only four minutes! it seemed like the second i got in the bed it was time to get out already! i never went back...
Yes at first it seems like your mere 5 minutes in the tanning bed are pointless. When I first went tanning I didn't see a point. I have always been the type of person who likes to see results right away. However I stuck to it and was happy with the result. I would have to say that I also enjoy having a slight tan and that lying in a tanning bed is quite relaxing. I will however, never been seen as one of those bright orange, bordering red, people.
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