From the Alvin Lin blog, by Alvin Lin on 2008-05-17 11:33 AM (original link)

The article is about an Asian American going to Asia, observing, and commenting or hinting on things like eyelid or nose ridge surgery being linked to Caucasian-centric beauty standards, as well as the many beautiful Asian woman with mediocre White men couples she saw in the cities as a symptom of ‘cultural repudiation’.

There is a link in that thread to the original article, with comments below it. What is interesting is how emotional and strongly the Asian posters living in Asia deny or defend Asian beauty treatments, or about the AF/ugly WM couples, and also bash that writer as well as Asian Americans, for our views on this topic.

What do you guys think? Are we, Asian Americans, projecting our own Westernized viewpoint in a way that creates bias or incorrect observations on our part? Or, are Asians in Asia in denial or ignorance, over eyelid or noseridge surgery, or over the attractive Asian female / low quality White male pairings in Asia?

http://forums.yellowworld.org/archive/index.php/t-22241.html

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the double eyelid is so common its not even considered unusual anymore

being skinny was always a standard....but “light skin” is too. its not about trying to look white, its about career. people who work doing lower jobs are generally outside therefore get darker. tanning is pretty popular in the states right now and i dont see many asians trying to be tan.

I had always been told by my parents that in China, being overweight was a sign of good fortune and happiness.  Not quite sure how it related to “beauty”, but I always remembered my parents and their friends commenting about certain girls/women being “too skinny” even when they seemed “normal” to me.

My parents also made comments about “light skin” similar to what NYScott says...that being “dark” was an indication of being a field worker or other physical laborer.

AA’s definitely have a more westernized idea of beauty. I think this is even more true of Asian girls then guys.

1.  I can see how lighter skin isn’t related to Caucasian-beauty-worship, more about a class/laborer thing. But the craze over eye enlarging and nose ridge surgery, in my opinion IS related to conditioning under White-centric-beauty standards in many fashion magazines or media images.  300 years ago I don’t think double eyelid eyes or that nose ridge were prized like they are today.

2. Certainly AA’s are all more Westernized, however are Asian American observations about Asia, especially as they pertain to plastic surgery or how low quality White males can become sex gods in Asia, not valid because of this?

AA’s are definitely more Westernized but its not like most people in the US doesn’t follow US beauty standards.

my friends say that white guys who cant get with girls go to Asia because they know that girls want american citizenship

haha that’s what i think. the difference between aa being more westernized is that they don’t just associate america with white people but the entire pop culture. whereas asia is just about white. or at least that’s what i noticed

Alvin Lin - 05/18/08 10:11 pm

2. Certainly AA’s are all more Westernized, however are Asian American observations about Asia, especially as they pertain to plastic surgery or how low quality White males can become sex gods in Asia, not valid because of this?

There’s definitely some truth to this, and a lot of it is based on American marketing in Asia.  The marketing of Hollywood movies in Asia is a big factor....

It is disturbing to me how most movies in theaters, like in Taiwan and other East Asian countries, are Hollywood movies starring White actors, how the upscale malls have White models plastered on posters everywhere, and someone told me recently that ‘Prison Break’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’ is on TV in China and has a huge audience/ratings there.

not only china but korea too and probably japan

“White beauty” has been the leading beauty in Asia for a LONG time. I use to subscribe to a lot of Korean and Japanese mags and they would have white girls on the cover of beauty and fashion mags.

Jekki - 05/20/08 12:55 pm

“White beauty” has been the leading beauty in Asia for a LONG time. I use to subscribe to a lot of Korean and Japanese mags and they would have white girls on the cover of beauty and fashion mags.

I didn’t know that. If that’s true then that’s crazy...putting other ppl on your own magazine covers. Why bother having beauty magazines then.