|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
|
 Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:43 am Post subject: 77% of K-gals want Plastic Surgery |
 |
|
Seven out of 10 women say they have suffered stress due to their appearance and more than 77 percent think they need plastic surgery, according to a recent doctoral thesis.
Some 62 percent of women in their late 20s have already undergone cosmetic surgery.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200702/kt2007022118215110220.htm
Some 20.4 percent said people should avoid it if possible, while only 2.1 percent said people should never have cosmetic surgery.
For the appearance that they were not satisfied with the most, 17.1 percent cited their hips and legs; 14.6 percent their abdomen; 12.5 percent, weight; 11.6 percent, height; 11.1 percent, skin; 9.6 percent, face; and 2.8 percent their general symmetry.
I can believe it. It's been since the '90s that I dated a girl who didn't complain endlessly about what she'd change if she could. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
blynch
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: UCLA
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
its surprising to see so many girls artificially "fixing" their outer appearance in korea. but lets give these korean girls the benefit of the doubt. lets assume they're not all flocking to the plastic surgeon to nip and tuck every unfavorable feature. lets assume that the vast majority of them go through serious contemplation before going under the knife, or that others, after suffering disappointment after disappointment in their careers, see this as their only way out.
knowing the nature of humans, under different circumstances if i could imagine myself in a situation where my looks determined my advancement or success, i could see myself getting surgery too. i think anyone would. would that be unfair to my competitors? perhaps, if we all started on a level playing field. but we all know life isn't always fair.
don't get me wrong. i'm not defending the practice, i'm only giving you another perspective. in as much as some foreigners mock those k women that get this type of surgery, its a very similar attitude that drives millions of american women to get it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
leebumlik69
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: DiRectly above you. Pissing Down
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
| blynch wrote: |
lets assume they're not all flocking to the plastic surgeon to nip and tuck every unfavorable feature. lets assume that the vast majority of them go through serious contemplation before going under the knife, or that others, after suffering disappointment after disappointment in their careers, see this as their only way out.
|
No, I don't agree to let's assume that. But that's not what I'll be telling them at debate time in class at any time in the future:
"Yes, I fully support your need to climb over your fellow K-sister to get a strategic advantage in the job market and impress your future employer.
And may I reccomend you also fight her in the mud pit and supply free popcorn for me and others of my dis[ease]position" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
Just wanted to point out, that 77% figure includes not only major but also minor operations.
| Quote: |
| Um said cosmetic surgery includes not only big changes such as nose, double eyelid and face-lifting operations, but also minor ones such as face peeling and mole removal. |
 , 
I know of three foreign males who got moles removed on the orders of their Korean wives or girlfriends. They apparently weren't as unsightly to their Western ex-girlfriends. But then we all know Korean women have higher standards. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:26 am Post subject: Re: 77% of K-gals want Plastic Surgery |
|
|
| JongnoGuru wrote: |
I can believe it. It's been since the '90s that I dated a girl who didn't complain endlessly about what she'd change if she could. |
Ditto. My GF is always finding new things she wants to change. I always say "Honey, you are beautiful and perfect in my eyes."
Although I think a similar percentage of North American women would want to change their hooters in some way. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pyongshin Sangja
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: I love baby!
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Could they have their vocal chords removed? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| leebumlik69 wrote: |
| blynch wrote: |
lets assume they're not all flocking to the plastic surgeon to nip and tuck every unfavorable feature. lets assume that the vast majority of them go through serious contemplation before going under the knife, or that others, after suffering disappointment after disappointment in their careers, see this as their only way out.
|
No, I don't agree to let's assume that. But that's not what I'll be telling them at debate time in class at any time in the future:
"Yes, I fully support your need to climb over your fellow K-sister to get a strategic advantage in the job market and impress your future employer.
And may I reccomend you also fight her in the mud pit and supply free popcorn for me and others of my dis[ease]position" |
That's not really a fair way to look at it. Any time you improve yourself in the job market, you are putting others at something of a disadvantage. But does that mean we should look at somebody with a crummy resume as being charitable and magnanimous?
I don't think the problem is competitiveness, but rather the areas in which the competitiveness focuses, and the ruthless, uncompassionate nature of the competition. For women getting a job, appearances are a big factor when it shouldn't be. And for all Koreans, English is a big factor when a lot of jobs just don't really require it.
But anyways, blynch has a good point. A lot of this just comes down to economics and society. Women don't have as many opportunities after age 30 and so there's an intense pressure to be attractive. There is obviously an aspect of personal vanity to it, but there is also a sort of humility to it, as if by getting the surgery women are acknowledging and submitting to their own lowly status. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sister Ray
Joined: 25 Mar 2006
Location: Fukuoka
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
I find Western males seems to be quite hung up about plastic surgery. I've often heard them complain about Korean women's attraction to the knife.
Don't understand it myself. What is actually wrong with wanting to go to a surgeon to make yourself look prettier? I have no problem with it at all. If a woman wants bigger eyes or a steeper nose why does it bother you so much?
Damn Western men. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Woland
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| billybrobby wrote: |
I don't think the problem is competitiveness, but rather the areas in which the competitiveness focuses, and the ruthless, uncompassionate nature of the competition. For women getting a job, appearances are a big factor when it shouldn't be. And for all Koreans, English is a big factor when a lot of jobs just don't really require it.
But anyways, blynch has a good point. A lot of this just comes down to economics and society. Women don't have as many opportunities after age 30 and so there's an intense pressure to be attractive. There is obviously an aspect of personal vanity to it, but there is also a sort of humility to it, as if by getting the surgery women are acknowledging and submitting to their own lowly status. |
billyb, you are a wise, wise man! Great post! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Woland wrote: |
| billybrobby wrote: |
I don't think the problem is competitiveness, but rather the areas in which the competitiveness focuses, and the ruthless, uncompassionate nature of the competition. For women getting a job, appearances are a big factor when it shouldn't be. And for all Koreans, English is a big factor when a lot of jobs just don't really require it.
But anyways, blynch has a good point. A lot of this just comes down to economics and society. Women don't have as many opportunities after age 30 and so there's an intense pressure to be attractive. There is obviously an aspect of personal vanity to it, but there is also a sort of humility to it, as if by getting the surgery women are acknowledging and submitting to their own lowly status. |
billyb, you are a wise, wise man! Great post! |
If you think that's wise, I've got a series of very profound limericks on the bathroom wall at Gecko's |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NeonRain
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Sister Ray wrote: |
I find Western males seems to be quite hung up about plastic surgery. I've often heard them complain about Korean women's attraction to the knife.
Don't understand it myself. What is actually wrong with wanting to go to a surgeon to make yourself look prettier? I have no problem with it at all. If a woman wants bigger eyes or a steeper nose why does it bother you so much?
Damn Western men. |
Surgery is never an easy thing, even if it is cosmetic. I think there's something intrinsically wrong with electing to cut a perfectly healthy body, which is the case of most cosmetic surgery patients.
And I'm not a Western man  shouldn't we be wondering why women (and now increasingly western men) want to look a certain way. And the increasing demand for double lid surgery in the East? It maybe coming from the same place as the female obsession with GHD. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Woland
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| billybrobby wrote: |
| If you think that's wise, I've got a series of very profound limericks on the bathroom wall at Gecko's |
Okay, okay... and sometimes a wiseacre. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
leebumlik69
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: DiRectly above you. Pissing Down
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| billybrobby wrote: |
That's not really a fair way to look at it. Any time you improve yourself in the job market, you are putting others at something of a disadvantage. But does that mean we should look at somebody with a crummy resume as being charitable and magnanimous?
I don't think the problem is competitiveness, but rather the areas in which the competitiveness focuses, and the ruthless, uncompassionate nature of the competition. For women getting a job, appearances are a big factor when it shouldn't be. And for all Koreans, English is a big factor when a lot of jobs just don't really require it.
But anyways, blynch has a good point. A lot of this just comes down to economics and society. Women don't have as many opportunities after age 30 and so there's an intense pressure to be attractive. There is obviously an aspect of personal vanity to it, but there is also a sort of humility to it, as if by getting the surgery women are acknowledging and submitting to their own lowly status. |
I'm not surprised others don't agree with me on this. It's pretty much the one and only area (and hopefully the last) where I got into trouble with my students - hence my mudwrestling point. I normally very liberal but yet I refuse to have anything to do with tattoos or anything that alters the human body for unnecessary reasons. I don't find piercing attractive either unless its discrete (and nose, ears only). I will compromise by saying that some women do it in a mercenary manner to get ahead competitively, and some do it because they feel society forces them to.
But, society is also what you make of it so I'm finding it hard to even compromise. Who's right? Because I'm not sure if I am, I "officially" support it. But unofficially, I don't. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Sister Ray wrote: |
I find Western males seems to be quite hung up about plastic surgery. I've often heard them complain about Korean women's attraction to the knife.
Don't understand it myself. What is actually wrong with wanting to go to a surgeon to (1). make yourself look prettier? I have no problem with it at all. (2) If a woman wants bigger eyes or a steeper nose why does it bother you so much?
(3) Damn Western men. |
(see bold and numbers)
1. Oh dear, you presuppose that the change from Korean features to something else = prettier. In any case, since "prettier" is subjective, I shall give you my opinion on it. For every Korean woman who looks great with her big eyes, there are 10 who have not enhanced their appearance whatsoever and succumbed to peer-pressure and fashion, and 2 or 3 cases where the results are woeful. This perhaps is the concern of damn Western men - the fact that getting your eyelids done is as common in Korea as buying the latest must-have fashion accessory. The widespread desire for bigger eyes, when such eyes are not inherited, natural features, is an odd feature of the society. That said, any difference between someone getting double eyelids and someone dyeing their hair blonde seems quite arbitrary.
2. It doesn't bother one personally, ie. think less of an individual personally for having it done. In my opinion - for a nation supposedly placing so much importance on race, nation, nationalism, blood - the alteration of native racial characteristics to those more akin to Western racial features is an absurdity. That said, although an obvious point, you're quite right in that if a woman wishes to make that trip to Apgujong, she has every right to do that and no-one should think badly of her. However, there are some stunningly pretty East Asian girls with natural features and for the most part, in my opinion, it's unnecessary. Bigger eyes will not turn an ugly bird into Hyori, I'm afraid, and the ones who do look great probably did so already. It does however go to show the sheep-like mentality of females everywhere, I feel. I reject the wider societal theories on offer. Getting your eyelids done is a totally free choice and it's mostly done through the love of superficiality and the triviality of celebrity.
3. If western men claimed more Korean women should have it done because Oriental eyes are ugly, that'd be far worse. The view that girls are pretty enough and worthwhile enough already is hardly an affront to decency. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Sister Ray wrote: |
I find Western males seems to be quite hung up about plastic surgery. I've often heard them complain about Korean women's attraction to the knife.
Don't understand it myself. What is actually wrong with wanting to go to a surgeon to make yourself look prettier? I have no problem with it at all. If a woman wants bigger eyes or a steeper nose why does it bother you so much?
Damn Western men. |
Oh indeed! And damn that well-known Western man, Oprah Winfrey, for her (akk!) for HIS disparaging remarks about Korean women's obsession with plastic surgery.
And damn those Western men who are clearly the wire-pullers behind Korean newspapers ("Paging Mr. Real Reality") which have all run countless articles on this very topic, and always in that same indignant, up-in-arms tone that is the hallmark of Western men.
Let us also damn the whole cottage industry of K-netizens with their websites mockingly juxtaposing the "Before" and "After" (the knife) photos of every Korean female talent under the sun, replete with extremely ungracious commentary, for indeed we know they're not really pimply-faced K-boys without a date on Friday night, but in fact Korean-fluent Western men.
Oh, and lest I forget, damn those Korean girls I've taken to parties who keep a mental scorecard of every girl in the room (as doubtless those girls are also doing) of the shabbiness of their nose/eye/face jobs, and then giggling to be me about it later. Damn those Korean women, for they tricked me -- they're actually Western men in drag. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
