Cultural Concepts & Standards of Beauty

Study Notes

Universally Appealing Features: Clear skin, thick hair, and facial symmetry are associated with health and good genes.

Western: Tanning or "sun-kissed" skin is associated with prestige, signifying the ability to afford travel and expensive tanning products.
Asian: Paleness is considered prestigious, associated with a lifestyle away from laborious work in the sun.

Three Categories: White (Mestiza), Bronze (Morena), and East Asian Fair Skin (Chinita).
White Beauty: The most prevalent standard in modern Filipino culture. Historically associated with royalty and "Binukot" (trophy wives).
Bronze Beauty: Historically associated with the ruling class, representing strength and vitality. Still appreciated today.
Yellow Beauty: A beauty standard influenced by pre-colonial trade with East Asian countries.

Standards for physical beauty vary significantly across cultures, suggesting that beauty is culturally constructed.

India: Cleanliness, graceful clothing, well-maintained hair and skin, wearing a bindi.
Myanmar (Padaung): Women with heavy brass rings around their necks are considered beautiful, signifying wealth and beauty.
Iran: Nose jobs are popular, especially in Tehran, which is nicknamed the "Rhinoplasty capital."
Kenya and parts of Africa: Stretched lips and earlobes adorned with jewelry are signs of beauty and attraction.
Other parts of Africa: Scars are sometimes seen as a beauty marker.
New Zealand (Maori): Women with facial tattoos known as Ta Moko are considered physically appealing, signifying tribal affiliation and social status.
Many Asian Countries: Pale skin is prized, associated with wealth and luxury.
Mauritania: Full-figured women are considered more beautiful, as a fat wife is a symbol of wealth.
France: Women with a more natural look (less makeup, natural body hair) are seen as attractive.

Makeup: Makeup trends evolve constantly.
Plastic Surgery:
- Blepharoplasty/Double Eyelid Surgery: Alters the shape of the eyelids to create a more "Western" eye shape.
- Tummy Tuck: Surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen.
- Breast Augmentation/Implants: Increases breast size using implants.
- Rhinoplasty: Surgery to reshape the nose.
- Ear Reduction: Reduces the size of the ears.
- Chin Augmentation: Improves facial symmetry.
- Facelift: Tightens the skin on the face.
- Breast Reduction: Reduces the size of the breasts.

A psychological disorder where individuals experience dissatisfaction with their appearance, often leading to excessive cosmetic surgeries.
Rodrigo Alves: A well-known example, undergoing over 100 cosmetic procedures.

Fat Shaming: The act of humiliating someone based on their weight or size.
Negative Portrayal of Fat Characters: Fat characters in media often depict negative character traits.

Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by a distorted body image, severe food restriction, and extreme weight loss.
Bulimia Nervosa: Recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by purging behaviors.