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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Caucasian Persuasion on Asian

Now that I have your attention...
Americans have a powerful influence on the rest of the world (not always good either). People love our music, our cinema and our fashion. However, it seems that there is even more of an influence on other countries than we realize: they want the American look as well.

Wait. You didn't think that this post was going to be something sexual because of the title, did you? LOL! You dirty bird! Anyway, even one of the most prominent races on the planet (and prettiest per this doctor), don't mind being a little bit American. Although this story isn't anything new, I recently got reminded of it when I stumbled across an old Tyra Banks Show video.

Asian eyelid surgery. Some Asians are getting surgery to remove the familiar eye shape to get it to resemble more of a American (or European) look. Getting a crease stitched into the eyelid achieves that look for them. It's said to be a painful surgery that can cause discomfort for up to 10 days, yet many Asians brave it to seek their new look. A recipient of this surgery would also have to deal with the criticism from the Asians who consider the surgery "self-mutilation."

Now, I've heard of Asians getting contact lenses to have blue eyes, but is the surgery going a little bit too far? Don't get me wrong. A lot of people would argue that any cosmetic surgery is denying who you are and going too far. I can't say that I agree with that, but when it comes to doing something that's manipulating your heritage, is that going too far? Some Asians are upset with the concept and call these people "Twinkies" (yellow on the outside / white on the inside). According to a few forums that I read, there are some Asian-Americans who consider the term a compliment as they feel priviledged to have white features.


I think back to how so many black people got upset with Michael Jackson when he slowly transformed from a young, black boy to an older, white woman lighter skin. Black people were outraged over the skin-lightening despite Jacko's pleas that it was due to a skin disease. Black people are now up in arms over recent photos of Beyonce' in which her skin was lightened for the photos.

So, don't just think that there's only a Caucasian persuasion on Asian. It extends to many different races, if not all. Imagine that. All of these years I'm thinking that we black people were the trendy ones, but I've never heard of an Asian craze for full lips and apple bottoms. Hmmph. Black people need to step their game up. :)




What's your take on it all? Is it okay to change your look to whatever you want?

17 comments:

  1. Sure it's okay to change your look to whatever you want...we're all individuals who are free to make choices about appearance.

    THAT SAID...I think it's beyond retarded to alter oneself because of what is hammered into people's heads as a concept of "beauty." I'm half Asian and my Asian mother did that very same thing - imbued the notion that the blonde-haired, blue-eyed barbie doll was what was "beautiful." She used to pinch my nose every day when I was little with the hopes that it would make my very distinctly Filipino nose "longer" and more "white" like my dad's nose (No...I'm NOT making this shit up).

    I had a Korean friend in college who had that eyelid surgery done when she was in high school - IN HIGH SCHOOL!!! WTF??? She was beautiful, drop dead gorgeous in her own right - but seriously, she fell right into that whole line of BS that you wrote about - wanting to look more "caucasian."

    Personally - after surviving a whole childhood of believing that blonde hair and blue eyes was "beautiful" (I wanted to be Cheryl Ladd from Charlie's Angels!!) - now, I'm glad that I'm "mixed" - and that I look different from everyone else. People remember me (or at least they remember 'that girl that is maybe Mexican or Hawaiian or something??').

    I think it's sad that any race tries to emulate another. White chicks are wearing booty panties. Black chicks straighten their hair. Asian chicks get eyelid surgery. Where does it end???? Just be happy being who you are. People ought to focus more on "improving" what's on the inside instead of what's on the outside. Now, if there were a surgery for "asshole personalities" I would become a staunch supporter of that kind of surgery!!

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  2. LOL! I love the last sentence! Reck, it sounds like you had it rough. My mom would have needed to put a clothespin on my nose to make it look longer. LOL! I guess people aren't happy until they achieve a certain look, but at what point does one stop chasing that look? That's what cracks me up with people like Joan Rivers and others who have tons of surgery. When does it end? What is "perfect?"

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    1. At the very least, Joan admits to her surgeries (and pokes fun at it) - I can't stand those who OBVIOUSLY have had some "work" done who don't own up to it. C'MON PEOPLE!!! We're not blind OR stupid... (and seriously - how hypocritical is it that you are trying to "make" yourself look a certain way - yet you can't admit it out loud?! sheesh!)

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    2. Yeah, if you had work done, then own up to it. Don't leave with an A-cup and come back with Double D's and say you didn't have work done.

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  3. I'm sorry, I got lost a bit thanks to picture #2, but I'm back now...

    I think this is ridiculous, and Reck summed it up very nicely. But, look at body image throughout the world. People will always look at other people with envy, whether it be for something easy like boob/penis size, or "I like American eyes" (or puerto rican butts... HOLLA!!)

    Thanks to technology, I see Dr. Seuss' "The Sneeches" being the next popular movie... Get to work, hollywood!

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    1. I'm sorry, I got lost a bit thanks to "Puerto Rican butts." LOL!

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  4. I also agree with Reckmonster. Trying to live up to some commercialized concept of "beauty" is just sad.

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    1. Exactly. It's not like beauty can be measured any way.

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  5. I think plastic surgery is weird, and I feel bad for the people who are so unhappy with themselves that they have to cut their bodies up. No one is perfect, and that's the way it should be. If we all looked the same life would be really boring, not to mention confusing.

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    1. I think it's necessary when it comes to people dealing with accidents or even something like a mastectomy. I don't have a problem with fake boobs or anything, because they're so mainstream now. But, changing your face to look like another race just throws me a bit.

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    2. That goes without saying. If you were involved in an accident or something horrible happened and you just want to look the way you were, that's completely different from changing your look because you have self-hate issues.

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    3. Yep. I have no desire to look like anyone else. I don't want anything folded, sucked or snipped.

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    4. Well, not folded or snipped.

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  6. Btw, where do you find the photos for your posts? hahaha, I have to click away quickly if I'm looking at your blog while at work!

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    1. Sorry, T. I like attention-grabbers, but I thought the title alone would sway people from opening this link at work. :)

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  7. This reminds me of my trip to Dominican Republic last year. I just didn't understand why their billboards and advertisements featured American (white) people w/ blonde hair and blue eyes. But from what I've learned, that's who they (and most other cultures) aspire to be like. The white man wins again! Lmao!

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    Replies
    1. LOL! There is a fascination, to be sure!

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