Ideal Body Types in Hong Kong
Topic: What are the ideal body types for men and women in Hong Kong society? In what ways are these body types perpetuated through mass media, technology, and medicine? According to Bartky (1999), is body modification a form of self-empowerment or self-punishment?
Introduction
Human body is one of the elements used to assess the attractiveness of a person. Since the aesthetics theory varies in different countries and regions due to different history and cultural background, the description of general accepted aesthetically pleasing body will be different between communities. In this essay, the discussion will be focus on the ideal body types in Hong Kong society, how they are promoted and affect the society. Also, body modification and its effect on individuals will be discussed base on the Sandra Bartky’s study.
Ideal body types in Hong Kong
Due to its special history, Hong Kong is at the cultural boundary between Western culture from England and Asian culture, especially Chinese culture. The hybrid culture makes the standard of ideal body type a mix of beauty concepts from different cultures.
Affected by Western culture, men in Hong Kong often perceive a more muscular, heavy male body as being ideal. Bodybuilding mainly focuses on large muscular arms and chest, broad shoulders and slim waist. Fats and muscles should be distributed more on the upper body. The muscular body helps to deliver a sporty feeling and show that the man willing to take care of his own body and can maintain self-discipline for exercises. A masculine image is developed to attract others by the protection, resources and high social status showed by the regular trained body.
Height is another factor that determines the physical attractiveness of a man. The volume-height-index is a reliable measure of body attractiveness for man. In Hong Kong, the optimal volume-height-index for man equals 17.5 to 18 liters per square meter (THE PERFECT BODY MEASUREMENTS FOR MEN). Somehow
Introduction
Human body is one of the elements used to assess the attractiveness of a person. Since the aesthetics theory varies in different countries and regions due to different history and cultural background, the description of general accepted aesthetically pleasing body will be different between communities. In this essay, the discussion will be focus on the ideal body types in Hong Kong society, how they are promoted and affect the society. Also, body modification and its effect on individuals will be discussed base on the Sandra Bartky’s study.
Ideal body types in Hong Kong
Due to its special history, Hong Kong is at the cultural boundary between Western culture from England and Asian culture, especially Chinese culture. The hybrid culture makes the standard of ideal body type a mix of beauty concepts from different cultures.
Affected by Western culture, men in Hong Kong often perceive a more muscular, heavy male body as being ideal. Bodybuilding mainly focuses on large muscular arms and chest, broad shoulders and slim waist. Fats and muscles should be distributed more on the upper body. The muscular body helps to deliver a sporty feeling and show that the man willing to take care of his own body and can maintain self-discipline for exercises. A masculine image is developed to attract others by the protection, resources and high social status showed by the regular trained body.
Height is another factor that determines the physical attractiveness of a man. The volume-height-index is a reliable measure of body attractiveness for man. In Hong Kong, the optimal volume-height-index for man equals 17.5 to 18 liters per square meter (THE PERFECT BODY MEASUREMENTS FOR MEN). Somehow