asian square face

Asian Standard of Beauty

China: Similar to beauty standards in Indian, China is infamous for skin lighting. China has adopted a westernized approach to beauty. There are numerous differences within beauty regimes for western women and Asian women. In America, girls are obsessed with skin tanning. Tanning salons are very popular in the U.S. but in Asia, women avoid getting darker. Skin lighting products are one of the most popular selling beauty items on the market. Many Asian women begin bleaching their skin at an early age.

孙俪 Sūnlì, on the left, is a Chinese actress. She's considered as the Queen of television by the Chinese.

Joanna Chang is a former beauty pageant winner back home in China. It was not easy becoming a beauty queen, at an early age Chang, remembers her mother using bleaching creams on her skin. As a child, she was also told to stay in the shade and avoid the sun cause dark skin is "unattractive." Because of her mother, Chang developed an obsession with skin whitening. In 2009 the University of Miami diagnosed Chang with skin cancer. The doctors told Chang that her skin cancer was caused by the harmful chemical in skin bleaching products. Research shows that women who tan or bleach their skin are at higher risk of developing skin cancer.

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Chinese women believe that wider eyes are more attractive. Girls with 大眼睛 dà yǎnjīng (which translates to big eyes) are considered the most beautiful women. Women are considered even more beauty if the have 双眼皮 shuāng yǎnpí (which is double-fold eyelid). These beauty standards are similar to the western ideology of beauty. Many Chinese girls resort to cosmetic procedures to create the desired double-fold eyelid. However, in western cultures, Asian women are desired for having narrow eyes. Unfortunately, in China women with slime eyes are seen as not beautiful and often rejected from social beauty standards. Eye shape is a major factor in China.

The images above show two models in China. The model on the left is seen as exotic and high fashion. Because of her traditional Asian features, major fashion designers feature the model in western brands. The model on the right is the most popular model in China. Because of her westernize appearance she is highly favored among local designers and ad campaigns. The model on the right has been surgically modified to fit the ideal image of Chinese beauty. It is discouraging for young women in China. They are shown images of models that are genetically impossible to look like without cosmetic surgery. But when analyzing traditional Asian features from a universal viewpoint, it is clear that western cultures value Asian features more than the Chinese culture do. In china, the model on the left is seen as "ugly" because of her narrow eyes and large lips. Because of her features, she does not fit the traditional Chinese beauty standard.Chinese society believes the model on the right is much prettier, she has traditional European features as well as pale white skin.

comparison3bis the woman on the left, 巩俐 Gong Li, the famous Chinese actress which was also awarded the "World's most beautiful Oriental woman" title. She's had a great impact as a Chinese actress in the movie industry.

Facial reconstructive surgery is another common procedure performed in many Asian countries. The second criteria for beauty in Asia are facial structure, a very thin chin is considered beautiful. However, not every individual is fortunate enough to be born with the desired V-shaped face. According to Chinese beauty standards, a square face is extremely unattractive. Many Chinese men claim women who have square faces are manly and unfit to bear children. Because of this stigma, Chinese girl generally desires oval shaped faces and under facial reconstructive surgery. Ironically according to a survey conducted by Ninchaese.com the most desired face shape for western cultures are square. The square face is often considered by westerners very attractive because of the jawline, it is believed to enhance a woman's smile and attract men more.

范冰冰 Fan Bingbing is the most popular Chinese actress now. She's a real fashion icon in China.

Body issues are a major health concern when it comes to women trying to fit the ideal Asian beauty standard. Many girls starve themselves, over exercise or take harmful weight loss supplements in order to be thin. In China regardless of a women's facial features, she is considered beautiful or ugly based on her weight. Because of this many girls go days without eating. There is an obsession woman in China have with comparing their waist size to an A4 sheet of paper. Some women use the 'hand test' to determine if their waist meets the ideal standard of beauty. Women place their hands around their waist ion hopes of being able to fit. In the western world, the media also praise thin women. However, more plus size models originate from the U.S. than any other country in the world. Curvy women are also praised and desired, depending on where the curves are. Women who have large butts and slim waist are considered attractive in western cultures. This is not the same case for women in China, if women have the slim waist and large butts like reality star Kim Kardashian, they are seen as ugly. Asian men prefer their women to be slender straight up and down.

Chinese beauty standards are very different from western beauty standards. The two ideal images of beauty are very different. It seems like western culture values Asian facial features more than some Asian cultures due. Exploring numerous beauty criteria from around the world shows the pressure women are placed under. Young girls are taught at an early age to hate the way they look. The shape of a person's chin and eyes are not something that can be easily fixed or is affordable. Women go through extreme measures to attain the western ideal beauty image. The sad part is, western cultures praise women for the features they are oppressed for not genetically having. Women should be encouraging to accept themselves for the way they are. Living a healthy lifestyle should be the main reason for women working out and dieting. Chinese girls are taught to value thinness over health. Many of the women are not getting the proper nutrients they need because of food restriction with the fear of gaining weight and being ostracized.