Eastern vs Western Beauty Standards- Surgical Procedures (11/15)
The art of surgical procedures is a component that takes on a large role in beauty standards. Along with the historical reputation of aesthetic and cosmetic enhancement, South Korea has also been deemed the plastic surgery capital of the world. In the year of 2002, Koreans have spent over $5.5 billion USD and $500 million USD on plastic surgery. According to Jacobs and Zheng, “one in three South Korean women between 19 and 29 have had plastic surgery.” These statistics support just how culturally acceptable surgical procedures are in South Korea. Surgeries such as the double eyelid surgery, jaw reduction surgery, and rhinoplasty are popular because it is socially “normal” for women to have “bigger eyes”, a “V-shaped jawline”, and a “slimmer and smaller nose”.
Another form of surgery is the use of glutathione injections, an injection consisting of antioxidant components which help slow down the pigmentation of the skin, thus providing a fairer skin tone and a more whitening complexion. This skin-lightening agent has a historic background where having paler and lighter skin defined an individual of being from a higher, elite class. This is because of the idea that they did not have to work outdoors in the sun, therefore not getting darker skin. In addition to this historic culture of the desire for pale skin, working for a Korean skincare company this past summer made me realize the strong demand for whitening lotion from many Korean women, especially in the months of July and August.
Perceptions of beauty abound in all forms of ways, with “messages regarding beauty saturate the daily lives of females from a very young age and undoubtedly influence their identity construction.” For example, the media shows females from a young age movies such as The Princess Diaries and The Hunger Games to demonstrate that their complete makeup transformation positively changes the perception of female characters. The small meanings behind these children’s movie already give them the notion that societal status is dependent on external and aesthetic appearances. Such a conception battles against society’s emphasis on ‘individuality’, ‘self-love’, and ‘self-worth’. In fact, it reminded me of a dark time I experienced in high school. Being involved in 3 varsity sports, multiple AP classes and clubs, and serving as a member of the student body, I was relatively a well-rounded student. I had many supportive and loving friends, but I never felt completely satisfied with myself, especially with my physical appearance. I didn’t know how I could change to be ‘skinnier’ and ‘prettier’ and I grew in a spiraling pit of dissatisfaction. I never felt like I was enough and could never be perfect. Incidents like what I experienced for part of my high school career is a representation of the many girls that are also victimized by the deceptive notion of needing to look a certain way in order to be accepted. The standards of beauty and the standards women should uphold individually for themselves is quickly blurring. This, conveys the idea that the standard level of beauty is subjective and a result of the opinions of others.
