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China has become the worlds
second-largest market [after the United States] in the total consumption
of cosmetic products, Jung said. You also see other booming
industries relevant to beauty, such as diet clinics and health clubs,
even cosmetic surgery, which were all almost unheard-of in China just a
short time ago.
Her article in Family and Consumer Sciences quotes some of the women
she interviewed, including one who said that losing weight is a trend
in China.
Another woman mentioned the perfect female images in fashion
magazines, saying that the message is that everyone should look like
those models. So everyone will feel like, Ill never be skinny
enough, she said.
Others also talked about the influence of the media and the
prevalence in fashion and entertainment of tall, slim women in Western
countries, adding that in China, we just changed our standard of
beauty.
When gender roles change, as they have in China, women gain more
professional opportunities but also are subjected to more pressure to
meet a higher standard of beauty, Jung said. Combined with having
economic freedom and more control over their lives and bodies, that
pressure can result in eating disorders and other problems, she said.
The views of beauty have changed drastically, Jung said. The
standards in contemporary China seem to be unrealistic and remarkably
similar to Western standards.
She hopes to conduct additional research in the future, possibly interviewing women of different ages about their views.
Article by Ann Manser; illustration by Jeffrey Chase; photos by Jaehee Jung and Ariel Ramirez