Korean Beauty Standards

Merriam Webster defines beauty as the quality or qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses; but who gets to decide what and who is beautiful? Since the beginning of time, society has been responsible for shaping social norms, opinions, how gender roles should be played out, and how we should see the world. With more than 7 billion people on this earth, it is normal that various societies have been created throughout time; resulting in differences between them. Lately, American and Korean beauty norms have been on the spotlight because of their unusual skin care routines, beauty products, and different ways of doing makeup. Even though both cultures are highly engaged in the beauty industry, American and Korean cultures

One of the biggest difference between both cultures’ beauty standards regarding physical appearance is the skin color. In the United States, women tend to tan because they think it makes them look slimmer and prettier. For a great number of women, tanned skin symbolizes that you had more fun during a vacation. This idea has spread through generations, resulting in the extended variety of self-tanning products and tanning beds. In the contrary, Korean women prefer pale white skin. This beauty standards date back to ancient Asian traditions, when tanned skin meant that the person was a poor peasant because he or she worked in the rice fields, while pale skin represented luxury and wealth. In addition, in western cultures a very white skin is often considered a sign of poor health while eastern world sees it as the most beautiful aspect someone can have.

The paler you were, the more it was obvious you spent your life coddled inside, ways from the harsh sun and the labor in the fields, while in Western culture, the darker you are the more fun it meant you had on a vacation. (Lin,Su