What is Digg?Sponsored by Travelzoo
Take Advantage of Ridiculously Low Holiday Airfares view!
travelzoo.com - Flights $52 and up for Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year. But move on it now.
77 Comments
- morningmatters, on 03/30/2009, -2/+33I remember watching a 20/20 show a long time ago which went over studies in the US to prove that people who are taller and more attractive generally get better jobs with higher pay. I guess the Chinese are realizing this as well.
What's interesting is that in the US most of the surgeries are related to boob size and liposuctions which affects the body shape, where as in China it's all about facial features and body height. - Y0tsuya, on 03/31/2009, -1/+16A quickie with the hiring manager wouldn't hurt either.
- Whiteindigo, on 03/31/2009, -2/+15This summer I did a homestay in China and was shocked at how my family used a lotion that had skin bleach in it to make them whiter, because light skin is considered more beautiful. China has some really scary ideas of beauty, then again, so do we. Also, they just have too many people competing for a limited amount of positions, people there really need every edge they can get. It is so impossible to get jobs in China as a native young person. Too many people.
- endustry, on 03/31/2009, -1/+12Sad but true.
- kingmanic, on 03/31/2009, -0/+10The white skin things isn't just Chinese. If you take a REAL close look you'll find an element of that in nearly many cultures and societies on earth at the moment.
- smemily, on 03/31/2009, -0/+10Are you kidding? If you're born with good looks it's often a license to be an ***** and get away with it. It's the ugly ones that have to go out of their way to be nice and to be liked.
- ladygator, on 03/31/2009, -3/+13And now China is fully Americanized.
What a shame... - swern425, on 03/31/2009, -0/+8I dugg this for the sheer fact that the LA Times gives you the option to read the whole story on a single page next to the page numbers at the bottom. They're actually sacrificing page views to be more convenient. I really wish the NYT would do that for their awesome, yet sometimes long, features.
- Chadatron, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5If all the 'good looking' people have the jobs I would hate to see the unemployment lines.
- fandyllic, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5South Korea has a high rate of cosmetic surgery. Probably higher than China will ever have. The real concern is the expression of racism parts of it embodies. Lighter skin = better. You can couch it in all the cultural context bullsh!t you want. It's really about racism.
- prasantc, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5It is an even bigger deal in India. In half an hour of tv, you get to see at least 3 commercials which start with someone depressed for looking dark applying the fairness cream and are extremely happy for being whiter. The surprising thing is guys are into it as much as women are. Ridiculous.
- oldtactics, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5samesame in Korea - I'm actually having a hard time finding makeup and moisturizer that -doesn't- have chemical whitener in it.
- lazybuoy, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5What are these "scary ideas of beauty" you are referring to? It seems like the Chinese has the same ideas of beauty as everybody else. It's their motivations for achieving beauty that are different.
- atomicpoet, on 03/30/2009, -3/+7Every job seeker needs a lift now and then.
- trer, on 03/31/2009, -0/+4What are all the white guys with yellow fever going to do when all the Asian girls are trying so hard to make themselves look white?
- Karmashock, on 03/31/2009, -0/+4Gareth321,
Really? It's common throughout western society and has been for thousands of years. You can also see it in south american culture though I'm not sure if that's just a european transfer...
You see it to some extent in black racial groups as well... some favoritism towards lighter skin.
I don't understand it myself besides some people just being personally biased towards one thing or another. But you can see it in a lot of places. - wmtrader, on 03/31/2009, -0/+3This is true in every town, state/province, and country.
#1 rule to success is to be as attractive as you can.
And this is coming from a not so successful and not so attractive guy.
Maybe this is my wake up call to lose weight and get a hair transplant. - taibo, on 03/31/2009, -0/+3It's actually kinda pointless, at least for a 2 page article. If you have to click the 'single page' button, why don't you just click 'next page' and just finish the article?
- pikelet, on 03/31/2009, -0/+3Lipo doesn't help obese people. You can't take out very much in one go, usually about 2 -3 pounds. It's used as a body sculpting tool. Ever lost weight but have one annoying patch that is still pudgy and won't go away? That's what it's for and it works well (assuming you are still eating healthily and such).
- lazybuoy, on 03/31/2009, -4/+7Too bad plastic surgery is not solely an American phenomenon.
- arekkusu, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2Don't make fun of my condition sir.
- ladygator, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2It's not entirely, but the desire for quick, easy fixes (especially for superficial purposes) is definitely a western concept. So yeah, it may not be AMERICAN, but it sure as hell is Americanized.
- Grazzit, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2730 dollars for plastic surgery? my god that's insane!
- Kate1240, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2Good point
- inactive, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2Im guessing the IT people aren't the ones getting these surgeries?
- kingmanic, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2bad edit. 'nearly all' or 'many' was what I was trying to say. India has the same bias as does the majority of Asia. Although it's somewhat denied North America and Europe have that bias as well. Notice how many "black" celebrities are very fair skinned (Rhianna). Just look at models and celebrities and the proportion of them that are fair skinned. Africa and South America may have that bias too but I have experience from there or any information.
- mouseSeeker, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2Karmashock: that can easily be explained within the context of history, where the white slave masters would father children with their black slaves, and keep the lighter skinned slaves/children in the house. wiki the term 'house negro' to get a better context.
otherwise, there is no known documented light-skin preference in sub-saharan African societies, at least not before precolonial/Arab slave trader times. - crossmr, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2I've read things which claim 85% of women have had plastic surgery here.
- Pentagarn, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2It might hurt if it involves any "surprises," if you know what I mean...
- brandita, on 03/31/2009, -3/+5Time for that nose job I've been putting off...
Seriously though, It's very interesting that its dampened demand in the US but increased demand in China. - MarkusDee, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2I'm not sure if this is true, but I had it explained to me as people with lighter skin are generally considered to be richer because they don't have to work outside as labourers. If wealth and attractiveness go hand in hand then it makes sense to want lighter skin. The theory is plausible as it would explain why the phenomena is seen throughout various cultures. Although, now that I think about white (pink) people who tan think it makes them sexier (it doesn't) - I wonder if tanning is a recent thing? In any case, it seems to relate to wealth again, "Look at me, I'm so rich I can go to remote paradises even in the dead of winter."
- metamethod, on 03/31/2009, -0/+2might as well work in a virtual world
you can alter (and revert) your avatar anytime - oxdeltaxo, on 03/31/2009, -1/+2In regards to the lipo; Americans are one the most obese nations.
- aijazbaig1, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1Hmmm...looks like they are embracing capitalism whole heartedly now aren't they?
- cowsgonemadd3, on 03/31/2009, -1/+2And a tuck!
- Gareth321, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1Western societies easily favour tanned skin above white. When we begin talking about racial stratification in class I think it's an entirely different subject. Superficially, I believe, western societies find tanned skin more attractive.
kingmaniac: there are plenty of very black, very famous people in Western society. As are there white. I don't see fame as part of the discussion, however. We're talking about white skin being sexually favoured [more beautiful].
Karma: historically white skin has been favoured in many Western societies. It is no longer the case. Remember not to confuse perceived social status with perception of beauty. - kwiatka, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1Double-eyelid surgery: http://www.gonomad.com/readuponit/uploaded_images/ ...
- Kate1240, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1That was the first thing I thought of when I got laid off. j/k
- ortucis, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1Who is digging you down? It's true. I think SC even told them to stop showing such ads last year.
But then again, north Indians aren't dark skinned and it's south Indians that get pissed off at these ads most of the time. Northerns just want to become even more white (not that they are white as in Americans or British).
Those ads are ***** up (considering most models use *****-load of makeup to become that white). - Gareth321, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1While you could have said that more humorously, I certainly don't want to meet, marry and procreate with a beautiful women, only to find my kids are ugly as baboons and she didn't tell me she was actually ugly before the plastic surgery. That's kind of false representation, right?
- inactive, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1Those pesky labor laws. If we had child labor back and paid our workers slave wages, our economy would be doing a hell of a lot better!
/s - impedance101, on 03/31/2009, -1/+2Whiter = american = cool,
Simple logic you would realize if you visited any of these countries - Gareth321, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1"nearly many"? Elaborate.
My partner's sister went to school with a girl from Korea who was beginning to model. She took some sort of pill every day that bleached her skin. She also took the crazy sunscreen/visor/long sleeves in summer precautions. I'm unaware of cultures other than Asian that value white skin so highly. - ssaedini, on 03/31/2009, -3/+4Wow...this is really bothersome. Instead of looking at someone from the inside and seeing what they really have to offer, we humans are mainly focused on appearance....pathetic. I thought superficialness was mainly in the US, but it looks like it is spreading to other countries....yeesh.
- RadiatedAnt, on 03/31/2009, -1/+2My psychology professors friend who lives in japan (owns his own business) had his eyes reconstructed to an almond shape and he said business is booming ever since.
- oldtactics, on 03/31/2009, -1/+2Somewhat poetic that this is in the LA Times.
- nutzngum, on 07/15/2009, -0/+1irregardless?
/pardon my grammar nazi
and for the record, I know several attractive people who happen to have poor self-esteem, and conversely a fair number of happy, successful and out-going folks who happen to fall outside of the standard definition of "attractive".
good cosmetic surgeons will attempt to get a sense of the person they're dealing with, and make it clear to the potential patient that fixing the outside won't always fix the inside. - whytey, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1ANDDDD its gone its all gone
- Karmashock, on 03/31/2009, -0/+1MouseSeeker,
Preference for lighter skin predates slavery of black people. It was considered a sign of wealth because you weren't in the sun. People with dark skin were working in fields or doing labor of some kind. Only those with wealth could afford to spend their time inside. Therefore, light skin was a sign of wealth and status.
As to exceptions... I don't think anyone said it was everywhere without exception... so that point isn't really relevant. It is a common trait. That is a fact.
==================================================
Garth321,
The two are almost impossible to separate. A great deal of "attraction" is based upon cultural cues. A man with wealth or status is more attractive. A woman that projects a life of comfort and ease is more attractive. It's both biological and cultural. - taibo, on 03/31/2009, -1/+2Trust me, there are plenty of Asians to go around.
-
Show 51 - 79 of 79 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is 