Disclaimer: I know people who've had surgery. Some of them regret it and some of them love it. It all depends on the person and it's their choice, not anyone else's. I am also aware that these interpretations can not be applied to everyone who uses these medical procedures.
We've all seen how, when it comes to models, size matters and this can impact how women see themselves. So when people of other cultures constantly see models with white skin, wide eyes and straight hair, how do you think it makes them feel? For people of other cultures, the ideals we force upon people are even further out on reach. This has pushed some men and women to pursue, often dangerous, paths to obtain what they believe is beautiful.
Mobo award nominee Vybz Kartel was criticised last year for launching his own skin care range for men that included skin-brightening cream. The singer said before his cream was developed he used 'cake soap'. A product used for bleaching clothes - yep you heard that right. Skin lightening products are actually banned in the U.K and rightly so! Not only do they play into the hands of a distorted view of what is beautiful, they are also packed full of harmful ingredients that can cause serious skin burns.
To you and I, this is eyelid surgery. It is especially popular in East Asia, where some people strive to have an extra crease on their eyelid or wider eyes. This is a gory process that will set you back around £3000. Safety varies at different clinics.
I wasn’t so sure of this myself. I see hair dying, more as experimentation. However, a movement in the US, called Black is Beautiful, argues that dying and “taming” hair by straightening irons, chemicals and weaves, is eliminating their African traits. Chemicals used in the straightening process, can seriously damage hair in the long run. This can lead to balding and has even been linked to early puberty in young women.
Whilst researching this subject, you find a never ending cobweb of products and procedures, aimed at attaining a more westernised look. The sad fact is, not only are most of these methods dangerous, the fact they actually exist is almost justification to some people that the way they were born is undesirable. It is sickening to see people feel the need to go to such extremes. I see a lot of bloggers posting about the thin and curvy debate, but the short story is, everyone is beautiful. As corny as it sounds, you really are. No matter where you are from, they way you dress, the colour of your hair or skin, you are perfect the way you were born and nobody should feel the need to change that.