Asians live in a community with a set idea of what is attractive and what isn't. Although it varies from time to time, it still remains constricting and unrealistic. The double eyelids, the slim figure, the pale and flawless skin. These are characteristics that make someone ‘beautiful’ or ‘attractive’ in Asian society. It causes Asians of all ages to find themselves trapped living in this environment as they are subject to endless insecurities and judgments. Such feelings can have adverse effects on our mental health.

In modern Asian society, ideal physical features have been recognised as the Asian beauty standard. To meet these standards and feel accepted into society, people go under the knife and fix their traits that do not meet the standard. Nowadays, even Asian parents are willing to spend several hundreds of dollars to make their children appear better looking. You may ask, why is it so important to be approved by society or to be attractive in another’s eyes? Well, most of these parents believe that beauty can contribute to success. For example, as much as we don’t want to believe it, it is easier for better-looking students to make friends. Let’s face it, when we meet someone new, the first thing we notice is a physical feature of theirs. Only later would we pay attention to their personality or brains. Another reason is due to the unfortunate superficial nature of human beings. To some of us, appearances are an important factor when choosing who to surround ourselves with.

A popular procedure among Asians is the double eyelid surgery. This is an operation to create an upper eyelid crease which makes the eyes appear larger and more Western. Even though it brings much pain and discomfort, people still endure the pain in the hopes of presenting a better version of themselves though they are already beautiful as they are. People believe that double eyelids will increase their confidence and maybe even get them a better job. This is because beauty does make a difference, although it shouldn’t. In a New York Times interview, it has been proven that there are benefits to being better looking. For example, most of us may choose to vote for a more attractive politician or buy from a pretty salesperson.

This reality is the root of why cosmetic surgery is prevalent in Asia. Because double eyelids are an ideal trait that is set by a popular opinion, people with double eyelids are considered to have a greater amount of beauty. This causes people with double eyelids to be treated to a higher standard. Therefore, one of the motivations to meet the Asian beauty standard is to become more valid in society. However, this shouldn’t be the case, as everyone should be treated equally regardless of how they look.

Asian beauty standards have also been mainly influenced by K-pop Idols. Even though K-pop seems to be glamorous, it promotes social comparison and contributes to the insecurities of others. If you think about it, there are rarely any plus-sized K-pop Idols. This is because Koreans value slim figures and many judge them if they gain the slightest amount of weight. It is also less common for Asian society to promote body positivity. Therefore, Kpop Idols are pressured into keeping a thin body image. They are put under strict diets and are usually asked to go through plastic surgery to meet beauty standards. However, this reality is often overlooked because of how realistic it looks. The media fails to reveal the darker side of being in shape: eating disorders, depression, and in some severe cases, death. Due to the unawareness of the synthetic changes made to K-pop Idols, fans tend to compare their own beauty to theirs, which lowers their self-esteem.

Asian Beauty Standards and its Negative Consequences

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