Leiden University Student Repository

Baar, Lisa van (2015)

The Popularity of Cosmetic Surgery in China: Who Defines Beauty?

Master thesis | Asian Studies (120 EC) (MA)

This thesis analyzes the main factors which are contributing to the popularity of cosmetic surgery among Chinese women, focusing on social contexts, such as marriage and finding a job, globalization and its outcomes such as the influence of mass media and South Korea. To understand these factors this thesis dives into the concept of beauty by understanding what it means to be beautiful in China throughout history and who ultimately defines it. It is argued that there has been a change of beauty standard in China, meaning that the steps of obtaining beauty changed from applying make-up and wearing certain hairstyles and clothes to a whole new high level which can now only be obtained by cosmetic surgery. A number of factors are ‘defining’ the beauty standard of today, which is globalization, which can be seen as mass media and the popularity of South Korea, and China’s beauty economy which also contributes to higher standards in personal and professional success.

China

Plastic surgery

Cosmetic surgery

Beauty

Gender

Women

Author

Baar, Lisa van

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Chinese Studies

Supervisors

Teh, Limin

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en