Actually, no.
People alter themselves to increase their chances of success as they perceive the playing field to exist.
Steroids, metabolic drugs, surgeries, skin treatments, hair treatments. These things are all done to increase a persons odds of succedding in their field, whetere it be sports, dating, business, etc.
If a person believes that being stronger, faster, lighter, darker, taller, shorter, thinner, fatter or whatever will help them succeed in their chosen venture then there is a fraction of the population that will attempt to gain that advantage.
Because being lighter actually does have societal benifets they are not at all brainwashed (in this particular matter). They are correct in their assertion that being lighter or having straighter hair will reap benifets.
Thats why I didn't call them foolish. Just sad.
And I stand by that. It is sad whenever a person sacrafices integrety to achieve something.