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  • Essay / Chinese society and white-collar beauty: Western influence

    Table of contentsIntroductionContextObjectiveHistorical perspectiveEconomic perspectiveSocial perspectiveConclusionReferenceIntroductionThis article presents the appearance of Chinese beauties in the workplace in relation to historical, economic and social phenomena. The topic primarily focuses on the historical, economic, and social elements that accelerate the popularity of white-collar beauty, and the effects these developments have on contemporary women in Chinese society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayBackgroundIn the 19th century or earlier, people divided jobs according to gender. Whether in Chinese or Western society, working is the duty of men while the main duty of women is to stay at home and take care of their husbands and children. This situation has changed radically. As people become more open-minded, they no longer divide tasks by gender. Women began to read, study, and contribute to society in different ways. In contemporary Chinese society, a TV show called “Ode to Joy” has attracted public attention. One of the characters, Andy, who has a pretty appearance and is the financial director of the company, has become people's favorite. She is the definition of white collar beauty. Nowadays, appearance and intelligence are equally important for women. This is why “white-collar beauty” has become a popular expression. The shape of white-collar beauty is in a long process. Although the majority believe that this is simply a cultural change, it implies changes in China's history, economy and society.ObjectiveTo analyze how white-collar beauty develops from multiple perspectives and what influences it has on Chinese women, first of all, Scott and Hu's demonstrate the increasing number of women working in the 20th century. Second, Xu and Feiner's article focuses on how the Chinese economy highlights market demand for female appearance. Finally, on a social level, PBS NewsHour reveals the popularity of Western culture in Chinese society, which gives rise to white-collar beauty. Along with Cai's article, he comments on the success of the film about white-collar beauty, to demonstrate how the media propagate such character to people. In general, historical reforms motivate women to become white-collar workers, economic development emphasizes the advantages of beauty, cultural influences and media propagation make white-collar beauty unforgettable to the public. Historical perspectiveThe word " "white-collar beauty" did not become public until the recent 21st century. At first, men dominated the family and women were not forced to work. Instead, they stay at home to care for their husbands and children. This phenomenon remained the same until 1949. Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the strict law prohibiting gender-related work has forced women to study and work. Strength is the beginning for women to become smarter. Without the creation of China, women might still be forced to follow the traditions of their family or husband. The country's encouragement is the first step for women to become intelligent and independent. The beginning was a success, but the evolution of women is continuous. According to statistics, the female labor participation rate increased from almost 0% to 74% between 1949and 1952, and is only 13% lower than that of men. Although it may be difficult to abandon traditions, statistics show that more and more women are willing to participate in the workforce. This is the stage where women become white-collar workers. In China, participating in the workforce means they are beginning to abandon the tradition of depending on men. They choose to become self-employed and move towards the white-collar part of white-collar beauty. In general, the process of women's participation in the workforce has a positive effect, because it not only facilitates the efficiency of the China, but also increases the value of Chinese women. With college degrees or stable paying jobs, contemporary women hold more power than those in the traditional period. Economic Perspective The white-collar beauty trend and economic development may not seem related, but they influence each other. Not only because these smart women help China make more money, but the changing market and economy also affects these women in different ways. Changing work culture is increasing the demand for beauty. Unlike the 1950s, women were expected to be strong and powerful like men at work. As China opens up, China's "iron rice bowl" transformed into the "youth rice bowl" from the 1990s. While women began to join the workforce from of 1949 is the beginning of white-collar women, so the change in workplace culture is the beginning of white-collar beauty. The new workplace culture largely affects female workers, women who are not young enough or pretty enough are eliminated from companies or organizations. As a result, those who survive the rice bowl of youth are the young, prettiest and able to work. The rice bowl of youth gives a new definition to working women, and this gives rise to the white-collar beauty phase. Part of the economic development of Chinese society is based on beauties. The beauty economy phase faithfully captures this phenomenon. Chinese people develop their economy in different ways, one of which is women with pretty appearance. Women's bodies and appearances are materialized and commercialized. Since the image of attractive, young women is profitable, more and more media and companies are setting high standards when recruiting women. Under such circumstances, women with or without high-level education tend to intentionally change their appearance in order to meet market demand. Although the beauty economy is a great success for the Chinese and their country, its effects on women are controversial. The beauty economy demands that women not only be pretty, but also intelligent and nurturing. This is beneficial because it encourages women to build a positive image. However, in comparison, men are easier to get a job because the appearance requirements are relatively low. Gender inequality in the workplace reflects the negativity of the beauty economy. The way the beauty economy discriminates against women's body shapes and appearance can cause women who don't fit market demand to feel neglected and depressed. This could also lead to an increase in the unemployment rate for women. Social Perspective The rise of white-collar beauty also has a deep relationship with Chinese society. If history and economics contribute to the white-collar part and the beauty part respectively, then the social context brings these two together: 10.1080/12259276.2008.11666037