The Sociocultural Factors Underlying South Korea’s Obsession with Looks; A Qualitative Research

This thesis examines how a lookism society influences the self-perceptions and interpersonal relationships of young adults aged between 20 and 30 in South Korea. This study employs a qualitative thematic text analysis to examine the responses gathered from an open-ended questionnaire with interpretations based on sociocultural theory and feminist theory frameworks. The results indicate South Korea has standardized beauty ideals rooted in neo- Confucian values, reinforced by modern media and social expectations. Media and interpersonal relationships, particularly with peers, are the primary sources of pressures related to beauty ideals. Adhering to these standards is believed to lead to external validation and improved self-perception. However, participants express little desire to alter their appearance surgically. This study concludes that societal beauty standards have a significant impact on self-perception and interpersonal relationships, but individual decisions about...Show moreThis thesis examines how a lookism society influences the self-perceptions and interpersonal relationships of young adults aged between 20 and 30 in South Korea. This study employs a qualitative thematic text analysis to examine the responses gathered from an open-ended questionnaire with interpretations based on sociocultural theory and feminist theory frameworks. The results indicate South Korea has standardized beauty ideals rooted in neo- Confucian values, reinforced by modern media and social expectations. Media and interpersonal relationships, particularly with peers, are the primary sources of pressures related to beauty ideals. Adhering to these standards is believed to lead to external validation and improved self-perception. However, participants express little desire to alter their appearance surgically. This study concludes that societal beauty standards have a significant impact on self-perception and interpersonal relationships, but individual decisions about appearance are influenced by a complex interplay of personal and social factors. This thesis contributes to a better understanding of the sociocultural factors underlying South Korea’s obsession with looks and highlights the need to include minorities and different ethnic groups when investigating beauty standards in non-Western countries.Show less

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The Sociocultural Factors Underlying South Korea’s Obsession with Looks; A Qualitative Research