Thao Pham ’25 will kick off this year’s Community and Multicultural Development (CaMD) presentations with her talk, “Beauty or Colorism? The History of Vietnamese Attitudes Toward Light Skin and Its Lasting Social Implications,” on December 13.
Pham’s presentation aims to explore colorism through historical context and personal insight. Drawing from her experiences growing up in Vietnam, she emphasized how casual comments about skin color often went unquestioned.
“Part of the inspiration for choosing this topic came from growing up and hearing people comment on my skin every time it got darker. Back then, I didn’t think much of it, but when it came time to choose a topic, those memories resurfaced. It wasn’t one specific moment but an accumulation of experiences throughout my life,” said Pham.
In her research process, Pham used her understanding of Vietnamese to broaden her sources. She reflected on her growth as a researcher and writer while working on her paper.
“I had to engage with more types of sources: whether that be with conversations, or by analyzing Vietnamese-language sources, and not just English ones, to see how language and culture change the way situations are written. As a person, I feel like I am now more confident in going in-depth with topics that I care about and addressing problems I find in my community in my own way,” said Pham.
Theodore Parker, Instructor in History and Pham’s advisor, provided guidance as she navigated the challenges of organizing her extensive research. He emphasized how Pham’s project offered a unique non-Western view on colorism and highlighted the resulting difficulties in compiling sources.
“Her project stands out for its personal connection to the topic and the way she weaves her lived experiences with academic inquiry. Unlike many projects that focus on Western-centric perspectives, Thao’s research brings a fresh and nuanced exploration of colorism within the context of Vietnamese history and culture. Her inclusion of interdisciplinary elements, such as folklore, literature, and contemporary media influences, provides a multifaceted understanding of the issue,” said Parker.
He continued, “The hardest part was synthesizing the vast scope of research into a cohesive narrative while maintaining a clear focus. Thao had to navigate a wealth of historical and cultural material, often translating Vietnamese sources into English, which added an additional layer of complexity.”
Sam Clare ’25, another CaMD scholar and one of Pham’s close friends, underscored the international perspective Pham brings to her project. Clare expressed their confidence that the presentation will resonate deeply with audiences by connecting a specific cultural issue to global experiences of colorism.
“Being in America, we don’t always get to see perspectives of other countries, and as an international student, she’ll bring a really good perspective. I love CaMD presentations, and I think that’s what will be really great about hers. It’s about colorism in Vietnam, but it will also relate to colorism all over the world. I think she’ll take this really specific topic and relate it to a lot of people and different experiences,” said Clare.
Pham spoke about her hopes that her presentation will inspire others to reflect on their own communities and explore social justice topics that matter to them. She sees her work as a way to reconnect with her heritage while addressing an enduring societal issue.
“I hope [the presentation] gets you thinking about what other problems are in your own communities. Whether it’s a topic similar to colorism or another form of social injustice, I hope my presentation can act as inspiration for your own research,” said Pham.
Editor’s Note: Thao Pham is a Copy Editor for The Phillipian.
