Body+Image+of+Asian+American+Females

== toc =Asian American Female Body Image= [|Asian Americans] make up 4% of the United States population (Cummins & Lehman 2007). Asian American is generally an overarching description that inclu des those who “claim heritage in East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian countries” (2007). Asian Americans have distinct f eatures that set them apart from Euro-Americans (2007). In a country where the body image ideal is a tall, blonde, slende r build, and high cheekbones, Asian Americans may have the experience of other based simply on looks (Lau et. al. 2006). Minorities within the United States are ambushed with the Euro-American ideal, leaving them with very little choice but to submit. As a result, minority populations experience high rates of negative body image and eating disorders. Asian American females are no exception to that reality and are known to have some of the highest rates of eating disorders and negative body image (2007). Although high incidents of negative body image and eating disorders have been reported amongst this community, research is lacking (2006).

**Acculturation**
Asian American females report not liking similar parts of their bodies as Euro-Americans. In the United States, there is an obsession with body image. Studies that have researched Asian Americans in college show that there are similarities in the way that Euro-Americans and Asian Americans relate to their bodies, a weight obsession (Gillen 2013). Although research on body image for Asian Americans is lacking, some researchers has linked Asian American negative body image to acculturation. Acculturation is defined as the “process of adjusting to a different culture” (2013). Under this principle, media images are explored. Media images in the United States are chalk full of messages that suggest what is the ideal body type. Asian Americans are under represented in the media, only contributing to the development of a possible negative body image (2013).

**Plastic Surgery**
[|Rhinoplasty] and eyelid surgery are two common plastic surgery procedures Asian American females participate (2006). From a sociocultural perspective, plastic surgery takes place as a minority relates more to the dominant culture (socioeconomic status, class etc.), a desire to look more like the dominant culture emerges (2006). Asian American females will partake in eyelid surgery to widen their eyes. [|Here] is a clip of a woman of Asian descent giving a yoga-inspired exercise on eyelid widening. Rhinoplasty is done to resha pe the nose to be thinner, as Asian Americans often have wide noses (2007).