Should We Genetically Select for the Beauty Norm of Fair Skin?
Fair skin is often regarded as a beauty ideal in many parts of the world. Genetic selection for non-disease traits may allow reproducers to select fair skin for the purposes of beauty, and may be justified under various procreative principles. In this paper I assess the ethics of genetic selection for fair skin as a beauty feature. In particular, I explore the discriminatory aspects and demands of such selection. Using race and colour hierarchies that many would find objectionable, I argue that selection for beauty that is underpinned by such hierarchies is not a trivial selection. Given this, I claim that we should not make such selections.
Department of Philosophy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. h.marway@bham.ac.uk.
Herjeet
H
Marway
D001504:Beauty; D005006:Ethnicity; D005053:Eugenics / Q000639:trends*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D012098:Reproduction; D012641:Selection, Genetic
Beauty; Colour; Discrimination; Fair skin; Genetic selection; Procreative autonomy; Procreative beneficence; Race