Double Eyelids

2010-01-09 13:23:27 | Source

People will go through many steps just to become what they think is pretty or beautiful so that even the tiniest detail, such as eyelids, won't go unnoticed. For Asians, having eyelids is one of the many factors it takes for one to be considered "beautiful." Many Asians even go through blepharoplasty - "upper eyelid" surgery - in order to obtain this "beauty."

Most non-Asians have a crease above their eyes to create a "double eyelid" (see fig.1) but about 50% of Asians lack this fold (see fig.2). Most non-Asians don't even realize that they have a double eyelid or that others don't. However, for most Asians, it is a very noticeable feature. In fact, eyelid surgery has been getting more popular with Asians over the years. It costs about $3,500 in the US - but only around $800 to $1,200 in Korea where the surgeries are frequent enough that people pass them off as if one was just going to the dentist to get braces.

The surgeries aren't only limited to one sex either; men and women both get this surgery. Even Jackie Chan got blepharoplasty way back in the beginning of his career because producers said that it would make him look better and become more popular.

Beauty Issues, Stereotypes and Trying to Look "White"
Recently my friend, who's Korean-American, told me that she was planning on getting the surgery in Korea. The first question that popped into my head was, "Why are you getting surgery just to get double eyelids?" She replied simply that it looks "prettier."

There are many controversies about the true reason why Asians get blepharoplasty. Many claim that people get the surgery to make them look more "white." When I asked my friend this question she denied it in a flash. "I'm not trying to look white, I'm just trying to look better," she laughed. But what is "better looking" and "prettier?" And why does having double eyelids portray the picture perfect model of beauty for Asian people?

Sitting back and looking at the issue as a whole I realized that there are some parallels between what Asians consider to be beautiful and the stereotypical views non-Asians use to identify us with. Maybe, subconsciously, Asians are trying to look more westernized.

Growing up Asian myself, I have become familiar with the typical stereotypes that are set on Asian people and if you are a Saturday Night Live or Mad TV viewer you probably know what I'm talking about. There are scenes in SNL and Mad TV (Mrs. Swan) where white people try to portray Asian (or more specifically, Chinese) people. They wear large glasses, say things like, "Ching chong," have buckteeth, and have the most famous stereotypical trademark of them all - the small slanted eyes, which they obtain by squinting.

Maybe the whole reason why Asians want blepharoplasty is to make their eyes look bigger. And maybe the reason behind why they want their eyes to look bigger is to stray from that stereotypical view and because bigger eyes are considered "beautiful" among white people.

If you take a close look around you, you'll notice that many of the "beautiful" female celebrities all have "whiter" features. Take for example, Tyra Banks, a well-known Victoria's Secret model, and Beyonce from Destiny's Child. It's interesting how "coincidentally" these African American celebrities are both light skinned. Another example of this is the famous Janet Jackson who is known for her beauty and, like Michael Jackson, mysteriously seems to be getting whiter over the years. Unknowingly most people seem to have agreed silently that "white is right," and that those who are considered beautiful are those who have white features - like having large eyes and light skin.

Change of Heart
When I first heard about "double eyelid" surgery I couldn't understand it. In my mind I just thought, "Why would anybody pay thousands or even hundreds of dollars just to get creases on their eyelids?" As I researched more into the topic and looked at specific examples of the "before" and "after" pictures, I found myself noticing that eyelids did seem to make a difference. And as much as I hate to admit it, I began to feel that those with eyelids do look better than those without.

Despite all of what I learned about how everybody tries to look more "white" because that's what's considered beautiful& I realized that I bought into it also. I've come to the conclusion that we are all conditioned to view things a certain way, and anything that doesn't fit into that mold is condemned. For example, you don't see people who are overweight on the cover of fashion or teen magazines. You just get so used to seeing things one way that you forget that there are many other ways to see things also.

My friend is still planning on getting the surgery and I still have mixed feelings about the whole situation because I partially think it's against nature to alter your body to look a certain way. At the same time, I have also come to understand her perspective which is, "If you can buy beauty, why not do it?" It's sad that in our society, people feel like the only way to be accepted as beautiful is to alter their body into that "perfect white" mold - even if it is just as "trivial" as getting creases above their eyes.

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