The Pale Ones

By: Charlotte Shum

Pale skin, platinum blonde hair, and blue or pinkish-red eyes. A combination often associated with danger, terror, and criminality—the “evil albino”; a harmful stereotype rooted in mythology and fiction that had clawed its way into popular culture many, many years prior, and has continued to isolate and alienate albinistic people ever since.

Albinism is a rare genetic disorder characterised by the absence of melanin, the natural pigment product by the body that gives the skin, hair, and eyes its colour. It affects those of all ethnicities and can lead to visual impairments, sensitivity to light, and an increased risk of skin cancer. Many misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding albinism persist, which leads to the exclusion of this group.

There are countless stereotypes that portray people with albinism as weak and inferior, perhaps even as supernatural beings such as vampires. The famous film ‘The Da Vinci Code’ perpetuates this stereotype by treating its sole albino character—Silas—as a delusional monk gunman, and even ‘The Matrix’ series follows the stereotype of the gunmen albino, with the characters ‘The Twins’.

Modern popular culture and media are still filled with negativity surrounding albinistic people, subconsciously fostering bad impressions of the community onto typical consumers through the typecasting of albino people. Education is key to dismantling these negative stereotypes and encouraging empathy and understanding among the common public.

We can create an environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect, by challenging prejudiced behaviours and systems, educating others, enacting legislation and promoting inclusivity in our local communities. It is our duty to stand together and celebrate the uniqueness of each and every individual, and work towards a harmonious future.

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Rationale:

This article aims to provide insight on the inequalities, social isolation, and dehumanisation towards people with albinism. It is not a commonly spoken about topic compared to more widely relatable equality issues such as racial and gender equality, which is why I choose to write about such a topic.