China series, Part 11: Attractiveness and Neoteny

[Prometheus]

The basics of what is physically "attractive" in China (and many, many other cultures) are simple:

1. "Big Eyes"

In China and other East Asian countries, the notion of "big eyes" generally refers to the "double eyelid."

This before and after picture from a plastic surgeon should give you the idea:

If a woman can't afford the surgery, there are plenty of companies offering "eyelid tape" which is a small, bandage-like appliance that is glued to the eyelid, close to the eyelashes, which will cause a double eye-like fold. The double eyelid is also a trait that men must have in order to be considered attractive, but they needn't resort to plastic surgery or eyelid tape. They just need to have a fat wallet.

Take another look at that photo. Do you see what other surgery was performed? It takes us right to...

2. A high-bridged nose

That cute little pug nose may be cute on a baby, but no one wants to grow up to have a "pig nose" or "monkey nose" as they are called.

But the most important trait of all is...

3. White skin

The whiter, the better. Dark skin is a sign of being a laborer: someone who works out in the sun. White skin is a symbol of prosperity: someone who can stay inside all day.

People with dark skin are "dirty" and "black." Most Filipinos, Hmong, etc. are described as "black people."

Strangely enough, among the 56 ethnic groups in China, the Uighurs are considered the most beautiful simply because they exhibit the above traits.

Neoteny

Neoteny is simply the retention of juvenile features such as pale, hairless skin, the epicanthic fold of the eyes, and a generally youthful look to the face. Breeding for these traits is why so many Chinese women seem "ageless" and "cute" well into their 40's and 50's:

This youthful look is also a trait which men must exhibit in order to be attractive to women. Many Chinese men look so "soft" that if they grew their hair long, they might be mistaken for women. Just go look at all the "boy groups" of K-pop and Mando-pop to see what I mean. To combat this "feminization" China is planning to revamp PE classes in order to "boost masculinity."

Other "attractive" traits:

Long, thin legs

And I mean thin... like chopsticks... no turn to the calf of the leg. Calf reduction surgery is actually very popular among women here. I blame this trend on boys generating their ideas about beauty from Manga characters like Sailor Moon.

Large breasts

I know some of you are thinking, "Duh!" but it's a fairly recent development that the Bust-Waist Ratio is becoming as important as the Waist-to-Hip Ratio when it comes to attractiveness. And while changes in diet due to wealth proliferation has led to increased breast size, the changes have not kept pace with men's desire for women with larger breasts, especially with all the K-pop girl group videos available.

Non-physical Attractiveness

For women to be seen as attractive beyond the physical, they must exhibit certain other traits such as "girlishness." They need giggle behind their hands and otherwise engage in "sa jiao" ("throw delicacy") to make their suitors feel more manly. It's sort of like when your significant other asks you to open the jar of mayo and then praises you for being so "strong." Sa jiao relies heavily on the girl acting petulant in order to get her way. "Strong, independent women" are seen as emasculating.

Women need to show that they enjoy care-giving. If a couple gets on a bus and there is only one seat available the woman will insist that the man take it. He works hard to provide, so she shows her appreciation by letting him rest.

However, one quality stands above all others in the male mind when it comes to finding a woman attractive: quietness. This has nothing to do with the volume of her voice. It has to do with her ability to shut up and let her man be a man, even if that means staying out late and coming home drunk and stinking of another woman's perfume. If the woman wants to continue to have access to the man's house, wealth, and children, she needs to know how to shut up and go cry in the other room so he can get some sleep. If she doesn't know how to be quiet she's going to get something to really cry about... like a backhand.

As for what makes a man attractive, the answer is simple: money.

I have seen some short, fat, dark-skinned, pig-nosed, small-eyed guys walking around with truly, truly hot women... right to their Lamborghinis.

I'll talk more about wealth in Chinese culture another time. Ta!