The Ugly Truth

[kimpossible]

Beauty is one of the most pervasive stereotypes about Eurasian females. But at what point does a healthy admiration for Eurasian features turn into a loathing of one's own monoracial looks? Or into the sexual objectification of Eurasian women?

By Carmen Van Kerckhove

June 2002

Growing up in Hong Kong, Fiona Hartley (not her real name) had to walk up a steep hill every morning. By the time this Eurasian teenager got to school, she would be sweaty and flushed, and her wiry brown hair would be a complete mess. She used to look in envy at the Chinese girls walking by in their freshly pressed uniforms and their glossy black hair. "They never seemed to sweat!" Hartley, now 24, laughs as she recalls those days. "No matter how hot or humid it was, they always looked serene and perfect-not even a hair out of place. I always wished I could look more like them."

But ironically, ever since she can remember, Hartley had heard her Chinese counterparts saying the same thing about her. As a child, she was surrounded by cooing relatives and friends who would admire her more Caucasian features. "They would comment on how fair my skin was," she remembers, "or say they wished the bridges of their noses were as high as mine."

The legacy of colonial shame carried by previous generations of Eurasians has long since disappeared from the public imagination. Today, the adjectives associated with Eurasians are more likely to be "exotic," "stunning," and above all, "beautiful."

Beauty has emerged as one of the most pervasive stereotypes about Eurasians. As early as 1921, British writer W. Somerset Maugham described Ethel, the half-caste protagonist of The Pool, as being "adorably pretty" and resembling "something not of this earth" but more like "the spirit of the pool." This fascination with Eurasian beauty and exoticism continues today. Even in the forums of EurasianNation you can read numerous breathless accounts from males worshiping "hapa booty."

full story (http://www.eurasiannation.com/generic69.html)

[deez nuts]

But it is the general stereotpye that eurasian, blasian etc, etc are more exotic and beautiful. Whether it's fair or not depends on how you want to perceive it and how you want to be looked at. As to emphasize one feature over another isn't really accurate? Since you've adopted features from both races.

I mean I don't objectify eurasians and blasians etc, I just say that's one hot chick, but however it's hard not to notice the asian features if it is prevalent and then turn around and say wow thats one hot mixed chick.


And this Hapa booty, intrigues me.

[kimpossible]

It is part of the territory of being mixed Asian that full-blooded Asians will divvy you up and want to analyze the parts separately. That's one of the points of the article from a mixed Asian perspective.

Jen Chau, a multi-racial activist hit it right on when she said that exoticism isn't necessarily a compliment or statement of beauty and I would argue that this is a different type of exoticism that 100%ers are used to from Westerners. Many times, eurasian features are considered beautiful because of the contrast they hold, not because they have above average conventional features.

Many of us actually feel ugly because we can never imitate the type of beauty image valued by Asian culture.

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by Hello_Hapa@Sep 5 2002, 11:43 AM
Many of us actually feel ugly because we can never imitate the type of beauty image valued by Asian culture.
or white culture? or not?

[BeTheReds]

Well, I have always thought that I was very good looking. I may be a narcissist, but I think it is true.

I never attributed this to being a hapa.

I can honestly say that I compared myself to the vast majority of White men and I think I look a lot better.

I don't normally compare with Asian men. I wonder why that is. I mean, I have my own views about which Asian men are handsome and which are not, but I don't compare myself with them.

There could be 2 reasons for this.

1. There actually is some truth to the media telling me what is beautiful and who I need to compare with.
2. I don't look Asian enough to emulate that kind of aesthetic, therefore the comparison is irrelivant.

[YuheiCarreau]

Originally posted by Hello_Hapa@Sep 5 2002, 09:43 AM
Jen Chau, a multi-racial activist hit it right on when she said that exoticism isn't necessarily a compliment or statement of beauty and I would argue that this is a different type of exoticism that 100%ers are used to from Westerners. Many times, eurasian features are considered beautiful because of the contrast they hold, not because they have above average conventional features.

Many of us actually feel ugly because we can never imitate the type of beauty image valued by Asian culture.
IMO most people see White-Asian Hapas as beautiful because they're "White plus"; meaning they fit the White standard of beauty, plus they've got a little bit of that 'exotic' Asian look.

[YuheiCarreau]

Originally posted by BeTheReds@Jan 30 2003, 01:21 AM
Well, I have always thought that I was very good looking. I may be a narcissist, but I think it is true.
I have never thought of myself as good-looking... Fortunately, I'm enough of an egomaniac that it doesn't bother me too much :dance:

[nudel]

Bah, don't understand it. all people have there hot ones, full monets, and horse faces. but only walked in my shoes so what do I know. Personally, I’ve been rejected and glorified. just gots to meet the right one. And as a whole (as in race) aren’t humans suppose to become genetically healthier if we start mixing things up.

[YuheiCarreau]

Originally posted by nudel@Jan 30 2003, 10:31 AM
Bah, don't understand it. all people have there hot ones, full monets, and horse faces. but only walked in my shoes so what do I know. Personally, I?ve been rejected and glorified. just gots to meet the right one. And as a whole (as in race) aren?t humans suppose to become genetically healthier if we start mixing things up.
:lol: I don't think I've ever heard someone say 'full monet' before... I thought it was one of those terms made up by the people who produce those movies for teenyboppers, like 'pretty from afar but far from pretty'

[thaite]

what the hell is "full monet" ?

[nudel]

Originally posted by YuheiCarreau@Jan 30 2003, 11:47 AM
:lol: I don't think I've ever heard someone say 'full monet' before... I thought it was one of those terms made up by the people who produce those movies for teenyboppers, like 'pretty from afar but far from pretty'
hahah
damn sister, picked it up from her

[nudel]

Originally posted by buoywonder@Jan 30 2003, 12:23 PM
what the hell is "full monet" ?
kinda put together from afar and then all messed up when you get up close.

like an Impressionist painting

monet

[Elizabeth A.]

Being unattracive isn't that bad. At least you can be positive no one will ever fall in love with you just for your looks!

Cold comfort, but it's something.

[Green_Circle]

Originally posted by YuheiCarreau@Jan 30 2003, 02:36 PM
I have never thought of myself as good-looking... Fortunately, I'm enough of an egomaniac that it doesn't bother me too much :dance:
I agree. j/k

:D

[BeTheReds]

I think my standards for how women look might be a little too high. This must be a reflection of how narcissistic I am.

BTW I've seen some ass ugly hapas who got the worst of everything. Fat short and hairy with thick black hair and zitty skin. And those are just the girls....

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I have high standards for women....they have high standards for us, why should we be any different and settle for less.

[Hiroshi2]

I hate this whole objectification of people in general. I think it is true that people of mixed-race are often thought of as being extremely beautiful, or extremely ugly. Either way it goes, sometimes it seems hard for others to treat you as a *person*, not just that weird half-asian kid who might know karate or something like that, know what i mean? It's annoying as hell sometimes, makes you wonder if the only other person who could relate to this is someone else of mixed race?

[BeTheReds]

Well, as long as that other person of mixed race does not believe that they are good looking because of being mixed then I am sure that they can relate.

If they buy into the whole "mixed people are unique" and "mixed people are good looking" mentality, then I am sure that if you wanted to be just treated as a normal person then these people and you would never relate. They grow up believing that they are so special and that non mixed people need to worship them on a pedestal.

[speshllkay]

Originally posted by FrozenPizza@Jan 30 2003, 07:31 PM
I have high standards for women....they have high standards for us, why should we be any different and settle for less.
high standards physically or just in the whole package?

[Napoleon Chynamite]

High standards for the whole package, whether it be how hot they are, how intelligent they are, how funny they are, etc. Like I said, neither you or I or anyone else should settle for something that is not quite up to what they want. After all, you're picking one girl or guy that will play a pivotal and important part of your life out of a gigantic pool of people, but that's just me.

[angel nympho]

The grass is always greener...

[BeTheReds]

Originally posted by angel nympho@Feb 2 2003, 02:13 AM
The grass is always greener...
So does that mean... you wanna be mixed?

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Originally posted by BeTheReds@Feb 2 2003, 05:30 PM
So does that mean... you wanna be mixed?
No it just means people have a tendency not to be satisfied with what they have (possibly and partially out of boredom or loss of novelty) and they also tend to look to what others have and become either envious or longing of it.

[BeTheReds]

Originally posted by FrozenPizza@Feb 3 2003, 01:32 AM
No it just means people have a tendency not to be satisfied with what they have (possibly and partially out of boredom or loss of novelty) and they also tend to look to what others have and become either envious or longing of it.
Right, I unserstand what the phrase means.

But I was wondering if she ever felt like she wanna be mixed.

I certainly have felt that I wanna be full blooded Asian before. So.. I am interested to know if any Asians have ever wished they were mixed.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I have before, when I was younger. And of course I still carry part of that mentality where I'm like, just being ethnically from two different areas or countries would be real badass and cool.

[digiaks]

I personally have never been called exotic, nor has my sister. I have seen blasians called exotic, full asians called exotic, south americans exotic, but not me or any other hapa i know.

[SunWuKong]

revive.

[rice cracker]

I think my standards for how women look might be a little too high. This must be a reflection of how narcissistic I am.

BTW I've seen some ass ugly hapas who got the worst of everything. Fat short and hairy with thick black hair and zitty skin. And those are just the girls....

Lol, not everyone is as gorgeous as we are ;) :heart:

[SunWuKong]

worst of both worlds. hahhah!

[yoMAMA]

worst of both worlds. hahhah!

I've seen both!

[zero]

The Ugly Truth Behind the Eurasian Beauty Myth
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
August/September 2002

Multiracial.com


Beauty is one of the most pervasive stereotypes about Eurasian females. But at what point does a healthy admiration for Eurasian features turn into a loathing of one's own monoracial looks? Or into the sexual objectification of Eurasian women?

Growing up in Hong Kong, Fiona Hartley (not her real name) had to walk up a steep hill every morning. By the time this Eurasian teenager got to school, she would be sweaty and flushed, and her wiry brown hair would be a complete mess. She used to look in envy at the Chinese girls walking by in their freshly pressed uniforms and their glossy black hair. "They never seemed to sweat!" Hartley, now 24, laughs as she recalls those days. "No matter how hot or humid it was, they always looked serene and perfect-not even a hair out of place. I always wished I could look more like them."

But ironically, ever since she can remember, Hartley had heard her Chinese counterparts saying the same thing about her. As a child, she was surrounded by cooing relatives and friends who would admire her more Caucasian features. "They would comment on how fair my skin was," she remembers, "or say they wished the bridges of their noses were as high as mine."

The legacy of colonial shame carried by previous generations of Eurasians has long since disappeared from the public imagination. Today, the adjectives associated with Eurasians are more likely to be "exotic," "stunning," and above all, "beautiful."

Beauty has emerged as one of the most pervasive stereotypes about Eurasians. As early as 1921, British writer W. Somerset Maugham described Ethel, the half-caste protagonist of The Pool, as being "adorably pretty" and resembling "something not of this earth" but more like "the spirit of the pool." This fascination with Eurasian beauty and exoticism continues today. Even in the forums of EurasianNation you can read numerous breathless accounts from males worshiping "hapa booty."

"I grew up in Japan being told by virtually everyone (adult and children alike) that I was either beautiful or cute because I was 'ha-fu,'" says Abbie Yamamoto, 23, now a graduate student at Berkeley University.

Eurasian beauty is often attributed to the European influence, particularly among Asians. "It's because of the Caucasian features that they admire me so," explains Yamamoto. "They look at me and tell me the clichés over and over again about how big my eyes are and how 'high' my nose is."

Many Asians have even taken drastic measures to try to recreate these Caucasian features on their own faces. Blepharoplasty, the eyelid incision that creates the canthal fold, has become a veritable rite of passage for young females. Plastic surgeons say it is the most common procedure elected by Asian women in North America and Asia, followed by rhinoplasties (nose jobs) and breast augmentation. In the Philippines, a new plastic surgery technique has been invented to mimic the "high" Caucasian nose. According to Salon.com, surgeons insert a flexible plastic tube, called "the Cleopatra," up women's noses. The procedure can jack noses upwards anywhere from 3 to 13 millimeters.

Ironically, the Eurasian face, despite its obvious Caucasian ancestry, has become the face that sells Asia. TV commercials use Eurasian models to peddle everything from designer jewelry to sanitary pads. TIMEasia.com reports that in Indonesia, a magazine with a Eurasian on the cover will sell two or three times more copies than one featuring a purely local model. And on Channel V, the Asia-wide music television channel, almost every single VJ is Eurasian.

But at what point does a healthy admiration for Eurasian features turn into a loathing of one's own monoracial looks? Or into a full-blown fetish?

The emphasis on the differences, rather than the similarities, between Eurasian women and their Caucasian and Asian sisters, lends them an air of otherworldliness and exoticism. Taken to an extreme, this obsession with the exotic quality of Eurasian beauty can become dehumanizing.

"I think that Eurasian and mixed-race Asian women in general definitely receive negative attention for their looks, and that results in their objectification," says Michelle Myers. Half-Korean Myers, 30, of the spoken-word duo Yellow Rage, has found that many men who date Eurasian women like to keep their male friends guessing as to the exact ethnic make-up of their girlfriends. This guessing game not only makes the woman seem more exotic and desirable, it also serves to reinforce the trophyist mentality some men have towards women.

You'd think that with all this talk of beauty, Eurasian women would be supremely confident in their appearance. But that is not always the case.

Some women wish they looked more Asian. "How come my hair can't be as straight or as black as my Chinese mother's sisters?" asks Erica Schlaikjer, 16. "How did I inherit my dad's ugly, big feet? Why does my sister have smoother skin than I do?"

Other Eurasians have been told that they don't look European enough. Susan, 18, grew up in Malaysia thinking that she had an obviously mixed appearance. But when she moved to New Zealand, people looked at her as "just Asian." Even her Chinese relatives seemed to agree, lavishing her brother, who doesn't look Asian at all, with praise for his European looks.

But most Eurasian women—including Susan—have learned to accept and even celebrate their mixed heritage. Half-Japanese Mandy Willingham, 25, has been mistaken for a multitude of ethnicities, including Tahitian, Inuit, American Indian, East Indian, Spanish, Italian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian and Filipina. She's had waiters address her in Spanish in Mexican restaurants and on one occasion, a pharmacist even tried to argue with her in Arabic. Her boyfriend attributes all of this to what he calls her "ethnic currency." Willingham explains: "He says my appearance allows me to be accepted almost anywhere in the world. While I'm not sure if this is completely true, I've grown to appreciate the value of having a multi-ethnic look."

Even being labeled as "exotic" isn't always a bad thing, as Schlaikjer explains: "I embrace my 'exoticism.' I'm only 16-just like any other girl my age, I'll take any excuse to feel beautiful! I don't think I ever find myself wanting to feel 'more white,' or 'more Asian.' I'd like to think I get the best of both worlds."

[grimfan]

What disturbs me most is when Eurasians who look dominantly European with European last names are sought as the ideal. It's like they're trying to breed us out of existence.

[AltimaGTR]

One benefit to this is...at least they don't have to worry about promoting regressive traits. I find Eurasian women to be beautiful, but I wouldn't go outta my way just to date/make one.

[LaiSteve66]

Some Eurasians are attractive, some are not, it's as simple as that. IMO, eurasians are no more no less attractive than anyone else.

[deez nuts]

eurasians are exotic. i usually do a double take when i see an eurasian woman. if not to admire her beauty and exoticness, then to figure out why she looks asian before it clicks that she's eurasian.

so in summary, ugly eurasian women are probably the only ugly women that make me look twice.

[Faithless]

Comments from the first thread on this exact article.

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=1556

Is being labeled "exotic" related to sexyness?

[zero]

Asians with faint European features with tightly woven hair and prominent nose are good looking. Europeans with faint Mongolian features are pretty i.e. with a hint of sloe eyes, rounder lips and not so big narrow nose slightly upturned.

[BeTheReds]

Asians with faint European features with tightly woven hair and prominent nose are good looking. Europeans with faint Mongolian features are pretty i.e. with a hint of sloe eyes, rounder lips and not so big narrow nose slightly upturned.
WOW! Thanks for clearing that up... I'll totally use that, and that alone in my daily life to judge physical beauty now.

[theoutsider]

Hey guys. I'm new to the site. I registered here a long time ago...and it took like months for me to be accepted...so I never posted!

Anyhoo, I'm half filipino/ half german....living in the United States....

I have three siblings.... Oddly, my oldest sister and brother are very whiter two of the bunch, while my older sister and I are the darker ( 3rd and 4th, respectively). The older two could pass as completely white, while the younger two (that includes me) could pass for completely Asian.

I personally have a mix of semi-asian features and semi-white features. (Asianish eyes, whitish nose, etc.)

From my personal experience, Asians are attracted to people with white features. This is probably a lot more common in the Philippines....I remember visiting and all my relatives being in awe at my features.

That's not really bragging...that's the truth.

In fact, I agree with other people that it's kind of troubling. It makes me wonder if the universal image of beauty is a person with european features....and if that's so...why?

[AliBabaIncorporated]

In fact, I agree with other people that it's kind of troubling. It makes me wonder if the universal image of beauty is a person with european features
Not really, it differs a lot by country. For example, in HK, which a lot of people stereotype as the most "westernized" Asian city, white people either appear in commercials for shitty clothing companies, or mostly get ignored (except by people who studied overseas). Mixed kids either integrate fine if they can speak and write Chinese, or get ignored/patronised like white folks if they can't.

As for European features themselves: well, no one wants a tan, no one wants freckles, no one wants curves, and I only know of two people at my workplace who got eyelid surgery (middle-aged women), and people say behind their back that they look freakish.

[grimfan]

From my personal experience, Asians are attracted to people with white features.

If you went to, say, Germany, and had a bunch of Germans in awe of your beauty, would you say that it seems that white people are attracted to Asian features?

I just find it curious that when Asians fawn over hapas, they're white worshippers. But when white people do the same, nobody calls them yellow worshippers. Some may call them Asiaphiles, but that's a bit different. White worship connotates an envy of the entire people and culture, while Asiaphilism simply means an unhealthy sexual obsession. I think I see a double standard in this.

[returntosender]

If you went to, say, Germany, and had a bunch of Germans in awe of your beauty, would you say that it seems that white people are attracted to Asian features?

I just find it curious that when Asians fawn over hapas, they're white worshippers. But when white people do the same, nobody calls them yellow worshippers. Some may call them Asiaphiles, but that's a bit different. White worship connotates an envy of the entire people and culture, while Asiaphilism simply means an unhealthy sexual obsession. I think I see a double standard in this.

Honestly, I find that hard to believe. I can never recall a single white person give praise for asian physical features. I do recall white guys saying they love asian women because they have silky hair and a clear complexion-but I've seen way more white women than asian women with those features. And white guys who like asians with epicanthic fold eyes? I'll chalk that up to residual asiaphilia.

Perhaps the closest semblance to a compliment by a white to an asian, only because it usually comes from everyone, is that asian women tend to look younger than their age. I've heard this many times and I'll agree for sure.

[rice cracker]

From my personal experience, Asians are attracted to people with white features. This is probably a lot more common in the Philippines....I remember visiting and all my relatives being in awe at my features.


Because they're your relatives. :rolleyes:

Actually, if you're interested in further exploring the Eurasian beauty myth, there are plenty of threads devoted to that very subject in this subforum.

[SunWuKong]

wow, this is an old thread.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Honestly, I find that hard to believe. I can never recall a single white person give praise for asian physical features. I do recall white guys saying they love asian women because they have silky hair and a clear complexion-but I've seen way more white women than asian women with those features. And white guys who like asians with epicanthic fold eyes? I'll chalk that up to residual asiaphilia.

Um, so basically white people who like epicanthic folded eyes or any other Asian feature are automatically asiaphiles and therefore their praise is invalid? But when Asian people praise white features, it's just natural right? Like Grimfan said, that's a clear double standard. I've heard plenty of white people (some asiaphiles some not I suppose) praise asian features, most notably the not-so-prominent noses (I guess mainly for women since smaller or cuter noses are more popular among women than men) or the better skin and yea like you mentioned the better aging or just simply looking younger overall. I've also heard plenty of asian people praise white features of course, and we live in a white-dominated society where white features are the beauty norm, so I suppose that's not too surprising.

[returntosender]

I have never...ever heard of a white or black or any woman say they like asian eyes. There's a reason why it's ingrained as a primary target of insults. I think I've heard of white guys say they like the eyes, but moreso than not they're the ones who only go after asian women-IMHO. About the nose, again, I've never heard of white people compliment asians for their noses. Never have I heard that. If women are complimenting asian women for their slight noses then I'd imagine these women to have gonzo noses themselves.

Maybe there are people out there who do like pure asian facial features, but to my knowledge none are as envied as say the round eyes or the high nose, the lips and even the eye brow.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I have never...ever heard of a white or black or any woman say they like asian eyes. There's a reason why it's ingrained as a primary target of insults. I think I've heard of white guys say they like the eyes, but moreso than not they're the ones who only go after asian women-IMHO. About the nose, again, I've never heard of white people compliment asians for their noses. Never have I heard that. If women are complimenting asian women for their slight noses then I'd imagine these women to have gonzo noses themselves.

Maybe there are people out there who do like pure asian facial features, but to my knowledge none are as envied as say the round eyes or the high nose, the lips and even the eye brow.

Well of course not, like I said, global media exports white beauty norms, but as more than a few people have mentioned, despite this it still largely depends on the region. As for round eyes and lips, it's funny how full lips (currently valued in accordance with modern beauty standards) and large round eyes (at least from what I've seen) are much more common in blacks or African Americans and yet nobody calls those black traits. As far as I can tell Asian and black people in general tend to have fuller lips which would mean that going by current standards they would be regarded as having more attractive lips - again, this association is, unsurprisingly, ignored since the white power structure would not want to be regarded as less physically attractive than other groups.

I guess I would be living proof of somebody who doesn't buy into bullshit white standards even after having been exposed to western media my entire life. As for the Asian eyes, I dunno. I'm not saying I don't like large eyes, but I prefer the so-called epicanthic eyes, if only perhaps because I myself have large eyes and I'm attracted to everything that I don't have. As for the nose or eyebrows or hair, I guess I could really care less...but from what I've seen I do like Asian hair more in general. I have white friends that wish their nose was smaller and Asian friends that wish their nose was more prominent (but most of these are FOBs). The white friends that value the slight Asian nose do not exclusively date Asians, and some of them have never even dated Asian women or men. I do have a pretty high nose and bushy eyebrows but I don't really see that as a positive or negative thing. I'd say as long as the features go well with the rest of the face it's all good. Then again, I'm not white, but I grew up attracted to white features *shrug* Then again the preferences vary by area, I live in an area that's more diverse and not as white-bread or hickish, so that might be it.

Re: The slanted eyes insult. I dunno, this to me just seems to be one of the many results of racist and stereotypical views over the years. I don't really see this whole thing you're talking about with large eyes being seen as attractive, especially since many white people don't even have large eyes in comparison to Asians, they just appear larger because they come from deeper sockets. If anything the thin eye is seen as sexy or sultry in many cases, which I guess I'd have to agree. You might attribute this to the current wave/craze of the media exotifying anything and everything Asian, but there has been an equal amount of attention being paid to more "ethnic" features e.g. those of African or Latino/a Americans. I have heard just as many insults in school about those with so-called extreme "white" features such as overly large or prominent noses, overt paleness, freckles, curves (which may or may not be a white feature), and so on - and this was insulting and teasing between white people.

[White_Diamond86]

If your standards are too high for woman that may be why your not having any luck . . . Hint Hint " " "

[kimpossible]

If your standards are too high for woman that may be why your not having any luck . . . Hint Hint " " "

So he should go for buttherfaces and snaggletooths? I don't get it.