Change your face, change your race?

So, I went home for lunch today, and while I was eating, I watched a TiVo'd episode of Dr. Phil.  He was interviewing people who have decided to get plastic surgery that will totally erase an ethnically-identifiable feature.  For example, one young Asian woman had plastic surgery to create a fold in her upper eye lid, thereby erasing something that is an easily identifable Asian feature.  And there was a young man who was going to have a nose job to change what he thinks of as his "stereotypically Italian" nose.

What do you guys think about this?  Is this up to the individual - something that will make that person feel a bit more attractive and make his/her life just a bit better?  Or is this an issue of self-hatred, a willingness to remove those things that identify what you are? 

And, is this a slippery slope?  If we say that a woman cannot get folds surgically put into her eyelids, where do we stop?  What is the difference between erasing an "Asian eye" and straightening the kinks out of "African hair"?  Where do we draw the line?

I'm interested to hear what you think, so comment away!

Comments

[Meloni]

Yay! Another post I can relate to. For a while there, I thought you had forgotten about your fashion-challenged readers. :)

It most definitely is a slippery slope, as just about anything that we try to generalize is. There are tons of cases where people make modifications to their appearance based on self-hatred. On the other hand, sometimes it's just a preference. I was appalled back in college when the "Enlightened" tried to make me "realize" that straightening my hair was an expression of self-hatred! Um, no dude, really, it's just what I'm used to and prefer for myself. However, when I thought more about it, it occurred to me that I was so used to having straightened hair because my mother wouldn't have it any other way...because of the type of self-hatred that they preached. Does that mean, I need an intervention? No! My mom? Probably!!! *Giggle*

In any case, the answer to your question is based on the individual. As a society, we shouldn't focus on how many or what type of surgeries someone has. Instead our energies would be put to much better use trying to stamp out the self-hate that's at the root of some of them. (The hatred of others that's at the root of racism, sexism, ageism, and all the other -isms could use some work while we're at it!)

[Karen]

I feel like a lot of the changes that people make often reflect what is defined as "socially acceptable beauty" in the US. And while I'm all for doing what makes you feel pretty/gives you a self-esteem boost etc. etc., I can't wait for the time when women/men who don't look like the stereotypical definition of beautiful feel like they dont' have to conform to any specific standard.

I suppose that will happen in a few millennia when all cultures/races are throughly interbred OR when the aliens finally come down for a visit, whichever comes first, LOL.

[Laa Laa]

I think plastic surgery shoudln't be reduced to a racial issue. I think the society has been a lot more open about standards of beauty than it is in the past. The word "beautiful" by nature involves judgement, and it's kind of impossible for everyone to be beautiful. As an asian, I do hope to change some of my "ethinic" features, such as flat nose, and short legs. On the other hand, I do appreciate a lot of my ethnic features too. I love my cheek bones, and skin and pouty lips. Sometimes not being 100% satisfied with the look of oneself doesn't not always involve an identity crisis. Maybe in general we still favor some features that some ethnicities lack, I think our society has gained an open mind about beauty. We now focus on the general package instead of stereotyped beauty.

[Poopie]

i can't imagine wanting to change anything about myself. i have character traits that may need to be changed, but changing the way i look, i don't think so.

[Nikita]

I think this is a scary trend. Our difference make us beautiful. I want Asian women to be beautiful - because they truly are and keep their features. I want them to be proud of them. I am African American and honey, I have wide hips, I am 5 ft 3in, I have a wide nose, and wide lips. My behind helps take up too much of my jeans (lol), and I have thick thighs. This is the body that came from my ancestors, so no, I am not going to "fix" it. I want all women to love and flaunt their beauty as it is. No use improving on perfection. Now, if there are things that concern them that they would like to get fixed, say your stomach flopped over and you want that skin pulled up now that you have lost weight, then go for it. For just fitting in, no. Fit in for whom and for what? Besides, you are beautiful...or at least I am. LOL.

[Amethyst]

I'm not exactly "for" it however, I understand certain aspects of it. I've been told many, many times that I have an "Italian" nose. That, to me, is kind of a "left-handed" compliment. Should I tell everyone that says that to me to "f off" ?

Now, I certainly will NOT go out and alter the shape of my nose. But I understand that often people are stereotyped when one is a certain ethnic group. I'm constantly correcting people and defending myself but I definitely am NOT changing my features. So I guess the "f off" continues....LOL

[Michelle]

You know... I would have to say growing up with a 'Italian' nose sucked. In fact I do not know one Italian with a nose like Sofia Loren.

But I grew into my features and then learned to love what I got.

I think that most of the fire behind the fuel is these individuals have been teased or even harassed for having their ethnic features.

Being the girl with the big nose was extremely damaging for a while. And there was a time where I would have considered rhinoplasty. Now the mere fact of someone putting me under sedation and chisel away something that was created as a result of genetics. Only to have the constant nagging that I will always be a little 'off'. Something about me will never be right. And then I would have this wonderful ski slope pixie nose that will wiggle every time I talk.

That just totally grosses me out.

[ana]

why does a line need to be drawn? isn't one's body their's to do with, whatever you please? i have ethnic features that i feel know need to change, but i think that does who want to should do whatever they want and that it's no ones business but theirs.

[Bummed Out]

I think that there is a social standard when it comes to beauty. I'm a gay guy, and I've met a lot of other gays who are not attracted to black guys. And being a black guy, that leaves me at quite a dissadvantage.
If I had the money I'd get all my racial features removed, since being black means I'm largely excluded from being loved.
I think that when people are angry/frustrated and think that an ethnic person shouldn't change their features with the aim of changing their race they are not mad with the person but at the society which made them feel that way.

[Toya]

Hi Bummed Out,
Thanks for reading and for commenting. You're absolutely right that there's a social standard when it comes to beauty and that Black ain't it. I'm sorry that you've found yourself at a disadvantage on the dating scene because of your looks. However, I don't think the answer is changing them, even if you could afford to do that. What you need is someone who will love you exactly as you are, with your own unique and beautiful facial features. And anyone who can't do that isn't worthy of you. I hope you know that.

[cosmetic surgery philadelphia]

Personally, I feel that a person who's only identifiable by their eyelids must be a very shallow person at best. These people aren't getting plastic surgery to change their race. Maybe, they're trying to get rid of things like "Asian eyes" or "Italian noses" so people can get past their outer appearance and see who they really are besides physical appearance.

[Berg]

Race is only a superficial and imaginary designation. Of course someone can change their race with plastic surgery. People can talk about DNA until they are blue in the face, but ultimately it only comes down to perception and how you are accepted by others.

If you can't change the inherent racism of society--which includes standards of beauty as well as predictions of behavior--what is the shame in modifying your appearance?

You're not "changing who you are" by modifying your looks. After all, people cut their hair, shave their faces, and put on make up to be accepted members of society in general. Why not change your face to be part of a social group with whom you identify with because of any kind of genuine connection of values?