How is "tanned skin" viewed in China/HK by young adults?

Chinese people if they can try and tend to avoid having a tan.

Having a tan is seen that you are the kind of person that works in the fields for a living. Any person that works in the fields is assumed to be rural person who is poor and stupid.

Those who have pure white skin are assumed to be rich and powerful as it is assumed that they don't have to work and have the time to avoid the hot sun. With China status is everything,

If you walk into any type of store selling lotion or make up in HK, such as a Mannings, you will find that almost all creams and makeup are labeled as "lightening." They all come with a really high SPF and claim to make you fairer. So, I believe that that is a sign that light skin is a beauty standard.

Its actually kinda annoying for me, being an American living in HK, I'm way too pale already.

= Peasant!

Tan skin is still closely linked to those who must work outdoors for a living (construction, farming, etc.). Those with education are able to stay indoors, thus preserving their skin.

You will see women carrying parasols on sunny days in order to avoid becoming tan.

There is recognition that some people are simply darker, but there's not an overall acceptance of dark skin being "normal."

My son, half Chinese-half caucasian, started kindergarten last year in a city in the northwest. My husband, is a naturally dark Chinese-American and my son inherited his dark skin. My son's nickname, given to him on the first day of school when no one knew him, was "Da Da Hei" . . . the equivalent of "Stupid Black Boy." He had the darkest skin in the class.

Here is an article about tanning salons in China. It also gives you the history on the value of light skin.

http://en.ce.cn/Life/entertainment/fashion&beauty/EFBft/200609/12/t20060912_8520848.shtml

Good luck!

You could have multiple narrators and you can write them in first or third person, either one you prefer. Sometimes it may confuse readers if you choose to have many first person narrators, but if it's done right I don't see a problem there. Joanne Harris had three first person narrators in her book The Lollipop Shoes. It was written well and the reader had to figure out who's talking now - it usually become clear after first few lines. I think you also have to know your characters well enough to have multiple narrators. I've had this same problem very often, so I'm wishing you good luck! I know how difficult the decision can be.

I view it as good. Tanned skin shows a person's willingness to work hard. Those who are pale (to me) are weak and useless, because they probably stay home all day long and become unfit.

Guys who have tans ARE "manly because [they are] so tan".

But that's probably just because I like guys who are into sports/are out in the sun most of the time.

I make fun of people for being pale.

The reaction depends on the person, I believe.

Im not sure. I always thoug paler skin was more popular there, it shows wealthiness and such. Tanning probobaly goes with certain styles. Like Ganguro in japan.

It depends...I see that they prefer men with tan and women who are pale.

You can see all the whitening products catered towards female consumers - ie. SKII ads, Fancl ads, etc. on tv, billboards, magazines...

I think it has something to do with the yin-yan perspective. Men are creatures of yang (陽), which is magnified with warmth and sun. So, having a tan increases the "yang"-ness of a man.