The Romanticism of Beauty Privilege in True Beauty (2020)
People in the 20th century are aware that those who possess beauty are treated better than those who don’t. This is true that society is friendlier, accepts the beauties in a new environment more easily, and treats them specially in many ways.
As numerous studies show that people who are judged as more physically attractive are consistently perceived more positively and treated more favorably than people who are considered less attractive (Dion, Berscheid, & Walster, 1972; Dion & Berschield, 1974; Hosada, Stone-Romero, & Coats, 2003; Langlois et al., 2000; Principe & Langlois, 2013). This is extremely a serious issue that is existed in our society. By valuing someone based on physical appearance, there is definitely bias, prejudice, and inequality that is emerged for some people who were seen as less attractive.
Then the question is, what is the true definition of beauty? Does the only matter in this world is physical beauty? How about the inner beauty?
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True Beauty (2020) is discussing the beauty privilege issue for their drama. It is an adaptation from the most popular Webtoon worldwide by Yaongyi. As we have known, Korea is a country in which society views that physical appearance as the most important qualification in their lives. Those who are not good-looking may be treated badly, they do not experience the warm welcome in a new environment, and are unlikable. Consequently, many teenagers in Korea are undergoing plastic surgery in order to be more good-looking and accepted by society.
As reported by Washington Post, “South Korea has the fifth-highest number of plastic surgeons in the world, with more than 2.500 in 2019, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery”. The high numbers of plastic surgeons reflect the country’s obsession with physical appearance.
Moreover, Lee Eun Hee a professor of consumer studies at Inha University said that girls these days grow up looking at K-pop stars who look like living dolls and plastic surgery ads target women as young teenagers.
Similarly, an insecure teenager named Ju Kyung, who is the main character in the drama, experiences bullying because of her not-so-good-looking face. She asked her mother to go through plastic surgery and even attempted to murder herself due to being unsatisfied with her face. Then, she tried to use make-up to cover her bare face and she ended up obsessed with make-up. Make-up has become an essential, life-turning point in Ju Kyung’s teenage life. She moved to a new school with her new look and hides her bare face with make-up. Everyone in the school now looks upon her with a respect and friendly attitude. Moreover, all of them are wanted to be friends with her.
Now that Ju Kyung has finally aware of the difference between becoming the non-good-looking versus the good-looking in society, make her more believes that being pretty is a must. Ju Kyung has accidentally lied to everyone about her true face in order to be accepted by friends and teachers in school. Looking at such a situation, I am very concerned that the viewers might catch the idea that someone has to change his/her appearance just because fits in with society’s standard.
The standard that is set by society is indeed, cruel and toxic. How can they be unwilling to accept people as who they are? People are meant to be unique and different in their own ways and those that make the world beautiful. If everyone in this world have the same quality, it would be boring I imagine.
Sooner or later, a secret will be uncovered however it takes. Fortunately, at the end of the 2 episodes, Ju Kyung has realized that physical beauty is not that matter. The best quality that should be possessed by someone is accepting who they are as it is, be kind to other people, and knowing your worth and value.
Society worldwide must learn and accept the idea that God has created humans imperfectly perfect. In addition, what matters is what you are inside, not what is the outside. Physical beauty is not lasting forever, it will fade with time. However, the inner beauty lives with you forever.
References:
Dion, K., Berscheid, E., & Walster, E. (1972). What is beautiful is good. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 24, 285–290. doi:10.1037/h0033731
Dion, K. K., & Berscheid, E. (1974). Physical attractiveness and peer perception among children. Sociometry, 37(1), 1–12. doi:10.2307/2786463
Hosada, M., Stone-Romero, E.F., & Coats, G. (2003). The effects of physical attractiveness on job-related outcomes: A meta-analysis of experimental studies. Personnel Psychology, 56(2), 431–462. doi:10.1111/j.1744–6570.2003.tb00157.x
Kim, Min Joo & Denyer, Simon. (2021). Some South Koreans prepare for post-pandemic days with a facelift. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/korea-pandemic-plastic-s urgery-boom/2021/04/23/117b0556-a0e4–11eb-b314–2e993bd83e31_story.ht ml
Langlois, J. H., Kalakanis, L., Rubenstein, A. J., Larson, A., Hallam, M., & Smoot, M. (2000). Maxims or myths of beauty? A meta-analytic and theoretical review. Psychological Bulletin, 126(3), 390–423. doi:10.1037/0033–2909.126.3.390
Principe, C.P., & Langlois, J. H. (2013). Children and adults use attractiveness as a social cue in real people and avatars. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 115(3), 590–597. doi:10.101016/j.jecp.2012.12.002
Yonce, Kelsey. (2014). Attractiveness privilege : the unearned advantages of physical attractivenesss. Smith College
