The other factor that attracts women, especially minority, to buy cosmetics is the image of the white models. Most of the minority women thinks that having white skin is beautiful. There are thousands of skin whitening products sold in places like Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan.
uper two: Shiseido whitening product - http://www.shiseido.com.tw
lower two: Loreal whitening product - http://www.ob-mag.com.tw
Many asian women admire the image of white models/actresses in media. The language used in the advertisements is very persuasive. For example:-
"White skin gives you confidence."; "Be a white bright star, people will focus on you!"; "White Sensation."
These phases are always used in the advertisements and they really affect women's decision on buying these skin whitening products.
Their culture also changes their view on beauty. There is a tradtional phase in Chinese, "A white covers three uglies", which says that whiteness can cover any imperfection on face. Chinese women are always believing in this.
Personal narrative from Nellie Wong "When I Was Growing Up"
Besides whitening their skin, some minority women also have plastics surgeries on their body, like eyelid and nose surgeries, liposuction and breast implant . These are the most popular surgeries among Chinese women. They do not want a pair of eyes with single eyelids and flat nose like traditional asian women. They really admire the body shape and apperance of white women, especially those models' figures.
Not only minority women have plastic surgeries, some white women are also willing to have surgery on their bodies. They think a perfect body is having big breasts, a flat abdominal and tiny bums.
http://www.cosmeticsurgeryint.com.au/indexnav.htm
Information on plastic surgery, visit American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
The society influences a lot of women's behavior. In the writing "Arroz Con Pollo vs. Slim-Fast" written by Linda Delgado, she explained that Latino women have never worried about their weight. Unlike a lot of American women, Latino people think that they must gain weight in order to work and have energy. The belief of gaining weight in order to work is accepted by the Latino society and the word 'dieting' has never appeared.
Delgado, Linda. 1999. "Arroz Con Pollo vs. Slim-Fast." Women Images and Realities. California: Mayfield. 128-129.