Asian Beauty

One glance into the mirror and, all I see is an Asian face attached to an Asian body of an Asian female. Beauty matters. It is one simple fact that has rung loud and clear to me throughout the years. Day after day, people torment themselves with this simple question: "Am I beautiful?" Having been exposed to a media selling superficial values that capitalize physical beauty, it is not surprising at all to see negative repercussions, often in the form of eating disorders or endless hours being locked in the bathroom.

Comprising both a social overlay and a physical base for people, societal beauty standards do provide and incorporate a large social foundation. After primping all morning just to look aesthetically acceptable, you are rewarded with a positive reception from people in multiple shapes and forms, such as a helping hand when in difficulty or being approached by others in a friendly manner. Why not put the effort to look beautiful?

As an Asian American myself, I have always wondered, "What is ideal Asian beauty?" For most women, beauty is of utmost importance. Likewise, Asian women are flocking together to get blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation all to achieve double lids, a higher nose, and a larger bust. Asian women across the globe are whittling away at their round/oval faces and shaving their jawbone just to resemble the sharp bone structure of a Greek goddess. The aim is to look "naturally beautiful." In other words, to appear innately attractive with Westernized features because of race-based insecurities and in doing so, they betray their genetic legacy.

American Asian beauty and Asian beauty in Asia contrast with one another heavily. The first involves "sun kissed California girl skin" and a demeanor that is often perceived as more mature whereas the latter promotes a more youthful and natural look, lustrous hair, and porcelain white skin. However, the expectations of both worlds prove to be very limited and involve the Euro-Western physical characteristics that Asians usually are not blessed with.

Compare yourself to Asian representatives of pop culture. Do you look like any of them? Asian beauty has become so incredibly convoluted that we are left uncomfortably aware of how corrupt and narrow its vision is. Frequently bombarded with how I am absolutely failing these unachievable standards, I realize I will never be considered wholly beautiful by them AND the sheer impossibility of it all. Moreover, is it truly fair to measure Asians to a Euro-centric brand of beauty? Are Asians defined as beautiful or merely "exotic"?

By becoming more acutely attuned to the incredibly prohibitive parameters of Asian beauty, I have more clarity in the way I see myself. Beauty, of course, is subjective and we should be aware of how social constructs shape our understanding of it.