Socio-Economic Forces behind the Korean obsession with Plastic Surgery - Essay Example

Introduction The obsession with plastic surgery in South East Asia, and in particular Korea, is best understood as an amalgamation of localised discourses which are a result of the economic and technological developments in the country. It is surprising that a higher than normal proportion of men in South Korea have plastic surgery. Furthermore, many women in the nation surgically alter their physical features even when they do not plan to marry. This implies that certain local forces, aside from male hegemony may be propelling them into this practice. Sociological practices like family planning, economic advancement, media influence and female empowerment are the unique localised forces that make surgery such an obsession. Why Koreans are obsessed with plastic surgery Traditionally, the Korean female ideal was one of submission and subjectlessness. Confucian men were encouraged to engage their minds and expand their territories while women were confined to domestic roles. Therefore, any alterations of the physical body would be done for the benefit of the male. However, times have changed; women in South Korea are now equal participants in the economy. They are well educated and career-driven. Therefore, a number of them now reject these traditional definitions of womanhood. Korean women today are highly empowered and now regard personal gratification as a priority in their lives. They want to feel better in their skin and will go for surgical procedures in order to satisfy themselves. Fairclough (2005) explains that most South East Asian women are accused of having sleepy or dull eyes. They thus seek to widen their eyes in order to have a youthful look. These individuals simply believe that they will have more fun if their eyes pop. Some critics claim that these surgeries perpetuate negative body self examination. However, most of these women go for body alterations voluntarily. Furthermore, a number of them already had negative views of themselves; therefore, surgeries are a solution that enhances their self image. One of the subjects in the above article affirmed that eye surgery allowed her to enjoy eye makeup more. In the past, this was not possible because of excess fat on the eyelids. Therefore, the subject explained that the surgical decision was not done to please anyone. Instead, it facilitated her own satisfaction with her body. One may thus say that high rates of surgery are a means of self expression among a new age of Asian women who are agents in their own gratification (Holliday and Elfving-Hwang, 2012). Korean women are now becoming more career-oriented than ever before. Some of them are delaying marriage or choosing to ignore it altogether. These women are rejecting patriarchal conceptions of their place in society. As a result, they are even determining their own definitions of beauty. For instance, in the past, it was widely assumed that a moon face was desirable because it symbolised fertility. However, in Korea today, a number of women are choosing to narrow their faces. Therefore, these women are actively separating themselves from the patriarchal roles that had dominated history (Holliday and Elfving-Hwang, 2012). Most beauty ideals seem to be open for contestation. Some of the alterations they are choosing today were widely associated with open sexuality, such as the wide eyes. These preferences thus indicate that Korean women are seeking to occupy their space in the public sphere. They are asserting themselves and determining what is and is not unacceptable in terms of beauty (Holliday and Elfving-Hwang, 2012). Women’s roles are not the only things that are changing in the Korean world. Men too are seeking to define themselves. In the past, men valued distinct masculine roles as these were in tandem with their militaristic past. However, nowadays more men are going for softer looks. These may be explained by a number of factors. First, family planning policies have skewed gender ratios in the region. Therefore, women have several options to choose from when they want to settle down. Men must present images that are more acceptable to women than ever before. Women feel that persons with softer looks tend to be more relatable than the hard and masculine types. Therefore, this shift in power dynamics during marriage negotiations has forced men to bend to the tastes of the female gender. It is for this reason that men now go for cosmetic surgeries. They do it in order to enhance their prospects for marriage. The media also has a significant role to play in this cultural shift towards softer looks. Many cartoons, music bands and soap operas consist of images of men with such appearances. Technology has thus contributed towards this practice by popularising that look for men. Consumers often carry photos of their desired images when going for plastic surgery. They often select pictures of prominent personalities in entertainment. It thus comes as no surprise that many men would opt to change their appearance in order to look like the characters they see on mass media (Fairclough, 2005). Increasing rise in metro sexual males or feminine-looking men in Korea does not carry the same sexual connotations that it does in the western world. It is possible for a man to look a little feminine without raising eyebrows about their sexual orientation. In contrast, western males are not at liberty to feminise their appearance because this will cast doubts about their masculinity. In essence, Korean men have more freedom to play with their bodies because of the manner in which gender is perceived in their region. Economic pressures are perhaps the biggest driver for cosmetic surgeries among men and women in Korea. Almost 80% of the population already has a college degree. To stand out, job seekers are using their looks to secure employment. Holliday and Elfving-Hwang (2012) explain that over three-quarters of employers in the region consider applicants looks in their recruitment processes. Women may thus alter their appearance in order to enhance their prospects at work. Men are increasingly under more pressure than women to do so because their self worth depends on it. Korean men work for impressively long hours; they must go for looks which are compatible with this lifestyle. Several of them may select softer-looking features because these seem to be favoured at the workplace. Employers tend to feel more comfortable with an approachable-looking person. Since job applicants are required to send their photos to employers, then it makes sense to choose cosmetic surgeries that will resonate with job providers. The fast-paced Korean business world requires people to look a certain way in order to get ahead. Because competition is so intense, employers are now considering more than professional qualifications in order to accept candidates. It is for this reason that many Korean men and women have buckled under the pressure and changed their looks. Perhaps another uniquely Korean factor behind their affinity for plastic surgeries is the use of physiognomy. Korean culture is still highly spiritual; people believe that certain looks can enhance their capacity for success or luck. Therefore, many will consult a physiognomist in order to determine the features that need to be added or eliminated from their body. A number of these individuals; both men and women, will seek approval from their peers in order to secure the best face. Such phenomena are only found in this culture and emanate from their unique heritage (Holliday and Elfving-Hwang, 2012). Conclusion The demands of a modern life have come together to propel Asian men and women into cosmetic alterations. Women are seeking to assert themselves and gain self expression. Therefore, they have renegotiated traditional conceptions of beauty. Many of them have sought to erase the domestic perception and gone for the expressive and well toned one. Gender identity and expectations are also changing. Due to the high proportion of male suitors, women have the upper hand in determining marriage partners. Men thus opt to change their appearance in order to make them highly relatable. The media as well as excess competition in the corporate landscape has caused many individuals to change their looks in order to secure employment. Even their spirituality plays a role in this trend. Generally, a strong sense of Korean identity has augmented this need to alter the body surgically. One must understand the social-economic dynamics of Korea in order to understand this addiction to plastic surgery. Demands of modernity as well as the cultural transformations from mass culture have led to this state of affairs. References Fairclough, G. (2005). Korea’s makeover from dull to hip changes face of Asia. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB112975900267673643 Holliday, R. and Elfving-Hwang, J. (2012). Gender, globalization and aesthetic surgery in South Korea. Body and Society, 18(2), 58-81. Read More