Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; so we’ve been told. But does it matter if the beholder is Western or Chinese? And if it does, what are the different standards between the two?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; so we’ve been told. But does it matter if the beholder is Western or Chinese? And if it does, what are the different standards between the two? Below are a few of the most noticeable differences in beauty standards for women between modern Western + Chinese people:
Photo:bing
1- Large Eyes
In modern China, large eyes are considered to be a beautiful attribute. The larger and rounder the better, particularly eyes that have the shuāng yǎnpí, or double-fold eyelid. These modern Chinese beauty standards reveal a certain fascination with the West, with more and more Chinese girls resorting to cosmetic accessories – such as eyelid tape to enlarge the visible size of the eyes – or even surgery to create those double-fold eyelids.
Conversely, many Western people consider the narrower eyes more common in Asian women – including Chinese – to be feminine, unique and attractive and prefer them to rounder or larger eyes.
Photo Credit: The Archaeology News Network
2 – Light Skin
Some Chinese beauty standards are inspired by Western looks, but others definitely remain typically Oriental. White skin is one of them and is a must have in China. You’ll never see a girl buying tanner in China, or voluntarily tanning herself in the sun unless she’s spent quite a lot of time in the West. On the contrary, Chinese girls try to protect their skin from the sun as much as possible! If you’ve been to China, you undoubtedly must have noticed how they wisely use umbrellas, jackets and sunscreen to shield their skin from the sun.
Photo:bing
Having a white skin is an old Chinese beauty standard that stems from Ancient Chinese traditions. In ancient China, only the rich people had a white skin because they did not have to work in the fields like the peasants did. Their creamy, unblemished, white skin was proof they were of a different class. That’s why Chinese girls still nowadays want a white and smooth skin just like jade: to not be taken for a poor peasant.
Conversely, while once upon a time light skin was also considered desirable among Western cultures for reasons similar to Ancient China’s, modern standards have placed a certain amount of mystique around the ‘perfect tan.’ Superstars like Taylor Swift and Cara Delevingne are most often seen in public sporting rather dark golden tans and are considered more beautiful for it.
Photo Credit: YouTube
3- Narrow Face Shape
Two particular face shapes are generally considered more feminine and attractive in China. They are the guāzǐliǎn or melon-seed face (a broader forehead with a narrow angular chin) and the é’dànliǎn or goose-egg face (gently curved and symmetrical). While other face shapes would also be considered beautiful, it is these two that are the most sought-after. Not everyone is born with a melon-seed or goose-egg face and, as such, many girls even go through cosmetic surgery to change the shape of their face. The worst face shape a Chinese girl can have according to Chinese beauty standards is a square face, which is considered masculine. Chinese girls prefer an oval face over a prominent jawline, as the oval shape is viewed as more feminine, delicate and cute.
Photo Credit: youBeauty.com
As for Westerners, their ideal face shape is different. While the oval-shaped face remains very popular, according to a recent survey, the most attractive face for a girl is actually the square face. This could be because the square face is sometimes considered the most attractive as the wider jawline enhances the look and the smile.
4- Slim Body
While global standards and expectations around body shape and weight are showing signs of change, Chinese standards have largely remained unchanged: a woman with a slim body and narrow waist are generally considered most attractive. There are indicators of this preference – and the pressure it creates among Chinese women – everywhere. Advertisements, product endorsements, television shows and blockbuster movies all feature slim women.
Photo Credit: Hypebeast
It seems every few months a new ‘challenge’ emerges on Chinese social media that favors smaller bodies: the A4 Challenge, the Collarbone Challenge and so on. All this pressure has fueled an industry of diets, potions and pills all promising to give the user the ‘perfect’ body. Sadly, this situation is not limited to any part of the world, but exists almost everywhere, including the West. Interestingly, a recent survey in the UK by Fit Rated found that the vast majority of men prefer women who are ‘curvy’ over women who are slim and narrow-waisted. So while women feel a tremendous amount of pressure to acquire a certain body shape, they might be surprised to discover that their natural bodies are most attractive of all.
What are your thoughts and opinions? Beauty standards are and will likely always be a topic of strong opinions and hot debate. Do you agree or disagree with these comparisons?
