According to a report from Daily Beast contributor Joanna Chiu, women in China believe that going under the knife could improve all aspects of their lives, especially in their career.
Liu, a 28-year-old administrative assistant at a financial company had already undergone double-eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty, justifies her reason to get cosmetic surgery as:
“It’s just like applying makeup; everybody wants to enhance their beauty. A woman especially needs to work to maintain her appearance as she gets older.”
Women in China turn to cosmetic surgery to gain an edge in the job market, and it is especially difficult for women above the age of 30. In China, a woman who remains unmarried past the age of 27 are labelled as “leftover women” by the government. Often times, their age is the common cause of being denied jobs. In some cases, women who do not meet the minimum heigh requirements (1.58m) are also denied government jobs.
According to anthropologist Wen Hua, who is also the author of Buying Beauty: Cosmetic Surgery in China, aesthetics plays a big role in the social changes in China:
“The dramatic economic, cultural and political changes in China have produced immense anxiety experienced by women, which stimulates the belief that beauty is capital”.
She adds that the idea that beauty is capital “epitomizes the idea that good looks are the key to increased opportunities for social and career success”.
“Cosmetic surgery has become a form of consumer choice; it reflects in microcosm the transition of China from communism to consumerism with its own Chinese characteristics”.
In Wen’s research focused in Beijing, she found that cosmetic surgery is less taboo in China then in North America, and is particularly popular among women who struggle to find work.
Liu say that she would not be able to get a job if she had been an “ugly duckling”. She explains that she is worried about losing her job as she starts to get older, but still believes that an attractive appearance is just as important as an education. Which is why she takes evening classes in business management.
“Cosmetic surgery is a choice and you have to make the best decisions for yourself and your family,” said Liu. “That’s what people are doing all over China today.” [Source]
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