[Susi]

Tanorexia isn't just confined to "dumb American sluts with self worth issues". It's also confined to models and those who work in industries where they will be presenting their face to the public (i.e. in corporations).

I think where this started is how the view on a tan has changed -- I guess this is rather similar to the concept of the evolution of suburbia so I shall draw parallels with this at some points where it applies.

At one point in history, tans were regarded as something that only working men and women would have (from toiling in the field). Therefore, it was not the ideal for the upper classes and those who aspired to them. However, with the advent of travel/tourism for the upper classes in these times (I would say circa 19th century), the tan became a sign of affluence because of the destinations these people would go to (i.e. the Medeterranean coast). This is where the parallel with suburban growth begins. The first people to live in suburban villas were the rich who wanted a place to escape their city townhouses... this was modelled on the country homes of the landed gentry which in turn were modelled (not the architecture but the surroundings) on the Italian countryside (this is where the idea of a "lawn" came from). In any case, the idea of suburbia, like the idea of a tan, both of which once representing affluence and wealth filtered down unto the lower classes to become what it is today. Just like there are different classes of suburban home, there are different classes of tanning.

The tan today also represents "free time". It shows the person looking at the tanned person that the tanner has time to waste by sunning themselves (when this is usually not the case and the tan comes from either a salon, a spray or a bottle). This in turn is seen as a positive trait (having "free time").