Suntanning in 20th Century America

by Kerry Segrave

The suntan experienced a profound change in the last century. Considered a mark of the lower class for hundreds of years, tanning became a fad in the early 1920s and remains popular today. The tan, though, was much more than a matter of fashion,enjoying at first a boost from the medical establishment. Opinions ranging from hard science to quackery lauded the suntan as something of a panacea. Near the end of World War II, however, researchers increasingly warned against the hazards of overexposure to the sun, and a large new industry developed--sunscreen. Americans' current paradoxical obsession with the tan developed almost entirely from the conflicting rays of twentieth century thought. This history examines the twentieth century suntan as a social and scientific phenomenon. Beginning with the years 1900-1920, it debunks the myth that changing attitudes toward the tan sprang largely from the world of fashion. Initial pro-tanning medical hype, emerging negative opinions of sunbathing near the middle of the century, the development of sunscreens, the debate over sunscreen efficacy, and the sunless tan are all covered here. Numerous pictures demonstrate changing perceptions of the suntan, displaying advertisements for products that promoted, prevented or healed tans.

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2005

Reviews

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was a lot of information slopped together. Every other sentence referenced another author or book or date or Doctor. It was a bit of a tough read. There were a lot of references to vintage news or magazine articles. The one cool thing was the vintage advertisements that were pictured in the book, although these were all in black and white. The "Notes" & "Bibliography" sections were very well done. I just wish the book was a little easier to digest. There aren't many books on this topic and this book was a little disappointing.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading this for a paper; overall, it's an interesting look at the historical aspects of the tanning fad in America. Everything comes full circle, as now everyone tells you that the sun is evil.