Whiter captures the many dimensions of colorism that shape Asian women's lives. Messages from mothers, others, and the surrounding cultures all coincide to constrain women's sense of beauty, family, identity, and worth. But Nikki Khanna and the distinguished contributors to this volume capture the many ways, both subtle and overt, that women negotiate, succumb to, and defy the dominant messages around skin color. This volume is a wonderful combination of sociology, cultural studies, memoir, history, media studies, and poetics bringing a diversity of voices and perspectives to this conversation. - Margaret Hunter, author of Race, Gender, and the Politics of Skin Tone Colorism affects Asian American women of every background, whether it's due to Asian beauty standards, colonialism, or racism. Khanna taps into the cultural pressures to possess lighter skin color. By curating relatable and thought-provoking stories from a diverse group of Asian American women in their own voices, Whiter will appeal to a wide breadth of readers—from gender and race scholars to anyone interested in deconstructing beauty standards. - Nancy Wang Yuen, author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism Whiter is an eye-opening book that aims to help us better understand the role of skin color in social mobility. (Bitch Magazine) This insightful, thought-provoking volume gives voice to the wide range of Asian American women's experiences of colorism. (Choice)