Asian Eyelid Surgery & Why People Want To Look Good
Okay, so I was talking to a friend about how beauty-centric our society still is even after all these years. You’d think that in 2009, we’d be a lot more forward-thinking, mature and less superficial about the issue but really, at the end of the day, we are still the homo sapiens (sans sapiens) that we are, elevating beauty above all (even the great Greek philosophers equated beauty with goodness, too, but that’s another story).
Don’t get me wrong, beauty is a good thing and human beings have been predisposed to prioritize beauty because it is a genetic marker for health – and healthy mates carry healthy genes which makes for the production of healthy babies who will in turn carry on those genes. Our subconscious has evolved to help us identify these signs which our conscious mind sees and labels as “beauty”. A good height, slim (toned, but not skinny) build, smooth skin, healthy teeth – these are what most people prefer in a partner because they possess genes that are most likely to ensure the continuation of succession. And whether we choose to reproduce or not, our idea of what is beautiful or attractive is hardwired into that unconscious part of our brain.
But at the heart of the issue, beautiful people are not just more likely to attract more mates… they also earn more. On average, 12% more. In an article from The Independent, “the main reason for the apparent victory of the lookers is that they are seen as more helpful and co-operative” while the rest of the Regular Joes/Joannas take in 7% less than them and Category 3 ends up 5% less than the moderately attractive. Okay, statistics aside, it was surprising to learn that good looking people are consistently perceived more positively personality-wise. I mean, we don’t want to mate with all these co-workers, we just want them to pull their weight in the workplace… so do looks really matter? Well, apparently it does – and it pays off, too.
So can you really blame people for wanting to look beautiful? Yes, brains are important (I, of all people, would champion that) but if someone out there thinks that they are in Category 3 and want to fix it so they can get a leg-up in life, I don’t think I can hold it against them. Of course, I’d hope they thought it through and put their physical, mental and emotional health into perspective first (that is, if they want to slim down – hit the gym and eat right first before opting for liposuction). All I’m saying is that wanting to be attractive isn’t “dumb” or “superficial” – it’s a natural fact of life. And if going under the knife is what they think is what they need (provided it’s a relatively safe procedure), hey, more power to them.
I know there are some out there who will vehemently disagree with this, but really, who are we to judge what someone else has to go through on a daily basis in silence. Prejudice is something that is very difficult to convey if you are on the receiving end of it because it’s so often covert and unconscious even to those who are perpetrating it (I doubt employers really think they are paying the beautiful people more, much less aware of their own innate prejudices). Yeah, yeah, “love thyself who you are, etc etc”… really, what if you can’t get that job as a news reporter on tv because your co-worker has a more symmetrical face? Are you really going to let that stand in the way of your career (and paycheck?) or are you going to do something about it? Change jobs? Look for a new career? Live life as second fiddle?
The problem is when people don’t know where to stop. As I’ve stated above, I have absolutely no problems with people who wish to do what they want with themselves as long as they think they have a valid reason for doing it and are improving on something. What I do have a problem with are already-attractive people who value their beauty so much that they think they have to improve on what is already a good thing they have going. Never fix what ain’t broke, goes the saying. And what I’ve never understood is blepharoplasty (better-known as eye-lid surgery) among Asian women. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch the video below:
The girl in the video was already extremely attractive. And she still felt the pressure to be more attractive than she already was. I just think it’s also a socio-cultural thing because having “double eyelids” are highly valued by East Asian women although it just seems so farcical considering that they are such a small feature in proportion to the rest of the face. It’s one of the most common surgical procedures done for cosmetic purposes, though most prefer to use glue or tape. And yes, it’s extremely popular and widespread among young, Asian females (and not just the older ones who think it makes them look “old and tired”). I have to say though, the process of artificially faking a double-eyelid is scary to watch, even when it’s not surgery.
Large eyes seem more expressive, yes – but is it really that much more attractive to have an extra wrinkle on top of your eye? Personally, I don’t think it’s that much more of an improvement (and surgery so close to your eye seems to be rather risky) when it comes to overall attractiveness since… well, who’s going to notice? Other women, I suppose? It’s one of those things which I think women put pressure on themselves to perfect, when it’s really such an inconsequential thing that it’s difficult for me to imagine the justification.
I guess all women want large, expressive, beautiful eyes and for Asian women, double eyelids constitute one step closer to the ultimate, baseball-sized eyes that those cartoons/anime girls have. Honestly though, I find the traditionally long-ish slit-like eyes of asian women rather sexy – even if some think they can “blindfold them with dental floss”. Just my two cents.
2 Comments:
People are by and large selfish and shallow creatures, the good and selfless are by far the exception. Look at the things society deems worthwhile in American culture, entertainment is a massive industry with its suppliers making huge amounts (singers, actors, athletes)
While someone like a teacher can barely make a living providing education…which should be a priority. But overall people are becoming dumber, because as Idiocracy so aptly demonstrated silly uneducated unprepared people have babies early and enmass, those children generally do the same. While educated and more prepared individuals wait. But I guess thats not the point of your post….anyway my fingers hurt from guitar strings so Im done with a pointless rant.
Long post Sin, but an interesting read. I hadn’t heard of that justification/reasoning for why some traits are considered beautiful (from an evolutionary perspective). It does seem to make sense, but it is unfortunate that good-looking people might get paid more because of their beauty although there could be some reasoning behind that too.
People who are good-looking might be people who are detail-oriented and take better care of themselves/things in general so spend more time grooming themselves (or at least take care of themselves, especially things like healthy teeth) and so are more likely to concentrate on details and be careful in their work which could result in higher salary. It might be hard to have a simple cause and effect between beautiful people and higher pay (just because of their looks).
I hadn’t heard of eyelid surgery and it does sound a little dangerous, but then all surgery can be dangerous and has risks. I doubt the eyes are something you can really change naturally, as compared to working out and eating right to lose some weight instead of using liposuction (surgical method). It might seem a little excessive to concentrate on such a small detail, but then the eyes are a fairly important feature of the face (and therefore beauty in general I guess).