Insane Beauty Standards Across Different Cultures!

Summary

This video script explores diverse global beauty standards, from Iran's nose-job bandages symbolizing status to Bali's Metatah teeth filing for attractiveness. It delves into Ethiopian scarification, Eastern Asia's skin bleaching, Asia's double eyelid surgery, Thailand's long-neck Kayan tribe, South Korea's male vanity, New Zealand's Ta Moko tattoos, Ethiopia's Lip Plate, and Mauritius' Leblouh practice. Each tradition reflects cultural values and beauty ideals, some of which are fading while others continue.

Takeaways

• 💻 In Iran, wearing a surgical bandage on the nose is considered a sign of high status, indicating that one has undergone a nose job and can afford plastic surgery.
• 💎 The Balinese practice of Metatah, or teeth filing, is believed to symbolize social and spiritual well-being, and is associated with self-confidence and beauty.
• 📝 Ethiopian and Sudanese tribes have a long-standing tradition of scarification, where they create permanent scar patterns on the body as a symbol of maturity, strength, and discipline.
• 🏾 In Eastern Asia, pale skin is highly valued, and skin bleach products are popular among women seeking to emulate the traditional Geisha look.
• 📱 Double eyelid surgery is prevalent in Japan and South Korea, influenced by pop culture, and is seen as a way to achieve a more 'approachable' appearance to Western standards.
• 📸 In the Kayan tribe of Thailand and Myanmar, elongated necks are seen as a sign of elegance and are achieved by wearing brass rings, despite the practice being discouraged in Myanmar.
• 💄 South Korean men are known for their image consciousness, often using makeup and pursuing cosmetic surgery to achieve a youthful and soft-featured appearance.
• 💵 Ta Moko, traditional Maori facial tattoos, are a sacred form of personal beauty that symbolizes status and is unique to each wearer.
• 💶 The Mursi tribe in Ethiopia considers the lip plate, which involves stretching the lower lip to accommodate a large plate, as a symbol of beauty and marriageability.
• 📵 In Mauritius, obesity in women is seen as a status symbol of wealth and health, and some families still practice 'leblouh', a form of intensive force-feeding to achieve this appearance.

Q & A

What is considered a sign of high status in Iran regarding beauty?

In Iran, wearing a surgical bandage across the nose is seen as a sign of high status, indicating that the wearer has the finances to achieve a higher level of beauty.

What is Metatah and how is it associated with beauty in Bali?

Metatah is a traditional Balinese beauty technique that involves teeth filing. It is believed that having sharpened teeth is extremely attractive and symbolizes social and spiritual wellbeing.

How is scarification practiced in Ethiopian and Sudanese tribes?

Scarification, also known as self-scarring, is a practice where permanent scars are made on the body as a form of body art. It is often carried out during puberty as a symbol of coming of age and can cover various parts of the body.

What is the cultural significance of skin bleach in Eastern Asia?

In Eastern Asia, pale skin is considered desirable and represents purity and innocence. Skin bleach is used in beauty products to whiten the skin and remove imperfections, emulating the traditional Geisha look.

Why is double eyelid surgery popular in Japan and South Korea?

Double eyelid surgery is popular in these countries due to the influence of pop-culture. It alters the eye shape to make the eyes appear wider and bolder, often influenced by Japanese and South Korean pop-idols.

How does the Kayan tribe in Thailand and Myanmar view long necks?

The Kayan tribe sees a long, slender neck as a sign of regality and elegance in women. Girls start wearing neck rings from a young age, and the weight of the brass compresses the rib cage, creating the appearance of a stretched neck.

What is the perception of male vanity in South Korea?

South Korean men are known for their healthy skin and image consciousness. They often use makeup and facial cosmetics, and may undergo plastic surgery to achieve a more youthful and attractive appearance.

What is Ta Moko and how is it significant in Maori culture?

Ta Moko is an ancient Maori tradition of facial tattooing that is considered sacred. It is used to symbolize specific statuses, with unique designs that are personal to the wearer, signifying strength, fertility, readiness for adult duties, and other personal attributes.

What is the Lip Plate tradition in the Mursi tribe of Ethiopia?

The Lip Plate is a symbol of extreme beauty and a desire for acceptance and marriage within the Mursi tribe. Women wear a plate in a hole that is gradually stretched in their lower lip, often starting in their late teens.

How is obesity viewed in Mauritius and what is the practice of 'leblouh'?

In Mauritius, obesity in women is seen as a status symbol and attractive for marriage. The practice of 'leblouh' involves intensive force-feeding of young girls with the aim of making them obese, which is believed to attract a successful husband.