Transcript for the Piece Audio version of Hollywood Beauty Reigns in Asian-American Eyes

SUGGESTED HOST INTRO:
For years Marilyn Monroe personified Hollywood glamor to the rest of the
world. Today the faces on the silver screen are a little more diverse.
Still, few non-Westerners are walking the red carpet, and that's putting
pressure on young Asian women -- even in a city as culturally diverse as
New York. WFUV's George Bodarky (BOH-dark-kee) reports as part of "Think
Global," public radio's week of special coverage.

(NAT SOT – NYC’s Chinatown parade – Fade Under Tracks)

If you’re looking for ethnic flavor, you’ll find it in New York City’s Chinatown, the largest of its kind in the U-S. Every year, hoards of people crowd the streets to celebrate the Lunar New Year, with traditional lion and dragon dances. Many young Asian-Americans turn out to honor their culture. But, despite their ethnic pride, some are willing to undergo plastic surgery to look more Western. 19-year-old Sharon Wong – who has blonde highlights -- says she wants to have blepharoplasty – surgery to create a crease in her upper eyelid…

“I would if I had the money for it – I think it’s beautiful that way – George asks – do you think it would take away your ethnic character – your Asian character – Sharon answers – yeah basically.”

The American Academy of Facial and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery says cosmetic surgery among Asian-Americans increased 340 percent between 1999 and 2000, with eyelid surgery topping the list of procedures. Japanese American Margaret Kimura says a lack of Asian role models in Hollywood is responsible for the dramatic rise. The professional make-up artist has written a book with beauty tips specifically for Asian women. Kimura says plastic surgery isn’t the answer to being pretty…

“I think psychologically they’re just trying to fit in to what the media caters to. I think that’s not accepting the eyes that they have – it’s trying to make them look like something they’re not.”

Hollywood has been doing a pretty good job of that on its own. The industry has long portrayed Asian women as dragon ladies, china dolls and geisha girls. Those images never appealed to Korean-American Elizabeth Choo. The 24 year old had eyelid surgery three years ago. Choo says she’s always admired the looks of actresses like Sofia Lauren and Audrey Hepburn…

“I grew up looking at all these American celebrities and their eyes were just so amazing because they had this deep set crease and Asian people don’t really have that – so to see something different was so intriguing to me.”

Plastic surgeons say up to 75 percent of all Asians are born with a single eyelid. Chinese New Yorker, Wen Lin is among them, but balks at the idea of having a blepheroplasty. Lin says she’s resisting Western global dominance…

“I look at beauty magazine and say is that what I need in my life. If Asian culture is the stronger culture than people make their eyes longer instead of having this double eyelid to make it look bigger – I don’t think it’s beautiful.”

((NAT SOT – BACK TO CHINESE PARADE – FADE UNDER))

This year, the woman at Chinatown’s parade voted the most beautiful says she was born with an eyelid crease. Miss New York Chinese 2004 – Fala Chen – says it’s up to individual Asian Americans whether to change their look.”

“A lot of people have plastic surgery to enhance their features – but I think the Chinese eye is beautiful – it’s very unique and I think it’s very attractive – I wish I have that – but people have different looks and they should be proud of their look.”

But, even in culturally-diverse New York City, where the Asian population grew by 71 percent between 1990 and 2000, ethnic pride only goes so far. Asian women are still altering their appearance. Author of the “Asian Mystique” Sheridan Prasso says Hollywood created the mess, and it will likely take Hollywood to clean it up…

“What we did see 50 years ago was the challenging of roles for African Americans in Hollywood and we started to question whether the role of mammy was the only role a black woman can play in Hollywood and once we started allowing a more fully diverse emergency of roles for African American women – we started seeing the Halle Berry’s and Oprah’s and Maya Angelou’s of the world and ultimately I’m hoping the same sort of thing happens for Asians.”

But until then, young generations of Asians will be influenced by what few role models they have in Hollywood, including Jackie Chan, who has had eyelid surgery. I’m George Bodarky in New York.