Excuse my rather long commentary. This is a post informing you of the rise of plastic surgery in Korea that took an unexpected turn somewhere in between "discussing Korean culture" and "criticizing American ideals," bypassing all facts and information that this message was supposed to contain. Yet I thought it was still worth posting. Enjoy my ramblings.Last year, I came across this short, 20-minute interview-style documentary about life at a Korean high school. Wow. I learned more about self-image in twenty minutes than I have in years of sitting through health class. I thought I knew how crazy the world of beauty and perception could get; having friends that are models and, well, just being a girl in a society that values appearance gave me pretty good credentials--I thought.
Was I prepared for all of the "I'm not beautiful"'s? Or the "Beauty means boyfriend"'s? No. The first time I saw this film I cried. Out of shock, out of sadness, out of wanting to tell these girls that they were beautiful, that they were worth more. But that, my dear readers, was when I was naïve to much of the Korean culture. Now I know that "you need a diet" and "you need plastic surgery" are perfectly fine things to say to your peers. Not rude at all.These girls in the documentary were explaining what they wanted needed to be accepted: wide eyes, double eyelids, light skin, and long and skinny legs. This is CRAZY, I thought. It's not reasonable. Based on these criteria no Korean could be born beautiful; it just isn't genetically possible. There's nothing more depressing than having a non-achievable standard of beauty—or of anything else really, but I am coming to the conclusion that the exact point of Korean standards is to be unachievable.
SNSD girl group- teen stars set beauty standards.
"If there's a will, there's a way"—and that way is plastic surgery. I've never considered plastic surgery. I mean why would I? I'd say that's not at the top of most American girls' wish lists. Actually, it's probably not anywhere on their wish lists…(with the scattered exceptions of the "plastics"--high society girls I see stereotyped in movies. I'm sure they exist somewhere like New York or L.A., but I've never met one). Plastic surgery isn't on most Korean girls' wish lists either—it's on their to-do lists!
"I have to do it; beauty is important in Korea," replied a student after being told she didn't need plastic surgery. "Before, I was ugly, but now I've become pretty," another girl commented on her recent change. (My heart is breaking for them.) According to JoonAng Daily, 41% of Korean teens are willing to undergo plastic surgery to become "beautiful."
There are stark differences in culture and mindset that cause me to react to this:
~Stigmas~We Americans like the "all natural" approach. We tend to hold others in disdain if they get cosmetic surgery, cake on the makeup, or get any advantage over the rest of us that was not by their own hard work or natural luck. Not that we aren't hypocrites—we are. Why do we have "natural look makeup"? Isn't that just an oxymoron in itself? Does that set a new standard of "natural beauty"? If so, it's now naturally unattainable, just as the Korean standard is.
There are stark differences in culture and mindset that cause me to react to this:
~Stigmas~We Americans like the "all natural" approach. We tend to hold others in disdain if they get cosmetic surgery, cake on the makeup, or get any advantage over the rest of us that was not by their own hard work or natural luck. Not that we aren't hypocrites—we are. Why do we have "natural look makeup"? Isn't that just an oxymoron in itself? Does that set a new standard of "natural beauty"? If so, it's now naturally unattainable, just as the Korean standard is.
Americans are bought by "pure" and "natural."
But why do we worship a celebrity's beauty, then scowl and slander when we find out she's had breast implants or a nose job? Doesn't beauty equal popularity? Are we jealous? Do we do this to flaunt our own beauty; to discredit the opponent? Any given American, after getting plastic surgery, will hide. She is ashamed of it. Maybe she will alter her nose a little at a time, start at a lower concentration of Botox, and work up her injections gradually, because she doesn't want anyone to notice. Does that make sense?! I don't know.
Koreans are more open about plastic surgery. While American celebrities get treatment in secret, Korean stars flaunt it. They are inspirations. I do not understand this huge difference between our cultures.
Koreans are more open about plastic surgery. While American celebrities get treatment in secret, Korean stars flaunt it. They are inspirations. I do not understand this huge difference between our cultures.
Americans believe in fairy tales and fantasies. We fall into this way of thinking that beauty is given to the lucky, and the lucky live lives that we should adore. Does this confession of falsity and unnatural beauty shatter our rose-colored vision? Are we angry? Angry at our own gullibility? We find ourselves back at the gut-sinking feeling of disappointment, of melancholy, as we did when we were 11 and didn't get our acceptance letter to Hogwarts via owl—because Hogwarts no longer existed. The same empty feeling as when we were playing house, and we were no longer able to conjure up that imaginary stove to make the imaginary dinner—because it no longer existed. The concept of "natural beauty" no longer gave us hope, no longer gave us comfort or joy—it no longer exists. Not according to our ideals of beauty. But to say so is taboo.
Korean teens are prideful about their surgeries. The "stick-out-nose" and the "double-eyelid" become the envy of their classmates. There are no qualms about ditching the concept of natural beauty. "Sang Ka Pul (double eyelid) glue" offers daily help for those trying to attain the "western eye look." The girls aren't ashamed of it; they pass it around as my friends would pass around a miracle-working mascara. "This one is pretty," a girl says as she points to her "fixed" eyelid. This method seems to obviously painful and unnatural, but we can't criticize while we twist our ankles in high heels, and exfoliate entire layers of skin off of our faces.
Korean teens are prideful about their surgeries. The "stick-out-nose" and the "double-eyelid" become the envy of their classmates. There are no qualms about ditching the concept of natural beauty. "Sang Ka Pul (double eyelid) glue" offers daily help for those trying to attain the "western eye look." The girls aren't ashamed of it; they pass it around as my friends would pass around a miracle-working mascara. "This one is pretty," a girl says as she points to her "fixed" eyelid. This method seems to obviously painful and unnatural, but we can't criticize while we twist our ankles in high heels, and exfoliate entire layers of skin off of our faces.
Proud student showing off her Sang Ka Pul glue.
~Seeking affirmation~We give positive feedback to friends. "You look great!" "You're so skinny!" We say these things to our friends especiallywhen they're at their lowest. We are a nation of e-tank boosters. Yipee.
"You should go on a diet." "You're ugly." "You need surgery." These comments are more commonly heard in Korean schools. Again, this is NOT considered rude in Korean culture. They aren't being mean; they're saying what they perceive. Watch the documentary and weep when the girl says that the first time her mother told her she was beautiful was after she got plastic surgery. My friend living in Korea affirmed this for me: many parents push their children to get plastic surgery. They believe success is linked to beauty, which, let's face it… has become the truth.
"You should go on a diet." "You're ugly." "You need surgery." These comments are more commonly heard in Korean schools. Again, this is NOT considered rude in Korean culture. They aren't being mean; they're saying what they perceive. Watch the documentary and weep when the girl says that the first time her mother told her she was beautiful was after she got plastic surgery. My friend living in Korea affirmed this for me: many parents push their children to get plastic surgery. They believe success is linked to beauty, which, let's face it… has become the truth.
Now, personal anecdote of the week:I don't wear makeup. I wasn't allowed to in middle school, and never bothered to learn the basics of wearing makeup once I entered high school. Honestly, I don't have time to spend on my appearance. I'd rather get the extra half hour of sleep. Save the stress for a better cause. My friends, on the other hand, care a lot about their appearances. They find fun in choosing which color of eye shadow matches their uniform, or deciding whether to straighten or curl their hair each morning. Now, my mom gave me eyeliner and mascara last weekend. I wasn't super interested, but I wanted to do a little experiment. I wore (hardly any) makeup to school on the morning of January 26th. The first classmate I saw told me, "Katie, you actually look pretty today." Why thank you, kind classmate. Good to know I don't usually look pretty, but thanks for the backhanded compliment anyway. Many like-minded comments flowed my way the whole day. I noticed people talked to me more that day. They walked with me where I usually walk alone. No make up the next day. No compliments. I wondered if that's how it felt in Korea after getting plastic surgery—having friends, having power.
Pretty isn't enough...but beauty is power?
It made me think about the relationship between beauty and success—not in America, not in Korea. Humans are shallow. We like things that shine. We like pretty people. When given a choice, don't we always choose whatever it is that we like? Yes. Seeing this trend, how could one who wants to succeed not gravitate towards conforming to their audience's standards of beauty? To succeed one must play to the judges, no?
I don't believe that beauty should be the basis of success, but does it look like I make the rules of society?
No I don't. But I contribute to their enforcement and so do you, on accident, on purpose.
I would love to get into the psychological effects and complexes due to the standards of beauty imposed upon teenage girls, and the debate of "does self-image = confidence?" but I think I've gone off-topic enough for one post =) Hope it made you think! ~KD
I don't believe that beauty should be the basis of success, but does it look like I make the rules of society?
No I don't. But I contribute to their enforcement and so do you, on accident, on purpose.
I would love to get into the psychological effects and complexes due to the standards of beauty imposed upon teenage girls, and the debate of "does self-image = confidence?" but I think I've gone off-topic enough for one post =) Hope it made you think! ~KD
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