China's booming plastic surgery market fuels a shadow industry

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Having slim calves is the latest beauty fad and this came shortly after pointed ears were the rage, with people believing that having elf-like ears would make their faces look slimmer and younger.

The heavy emphasis on beauty in the country has also resulted in women being known to participate in body challenges such as holding eggs on their collarbones, fitting into kid-sized clothing and having waists slim enough that can be covered by an A4-sized piece of paper.

the concept of beauty is increasingly twisted, particularly in first-tier cities such as Beijing where there is more pressure to adhere to a very narrow definition of beauty" like fairer skin and tiny waists.

Chinese citizens were not averse to cosmetic surgery because they were used to the concept of "staged beauty". During the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, for example, a child singer mouthed along to a pre-recorded song by another child because the original singer was deemed "not cute enough". "There isn't really a high value placed on authenticity in Chinese society...considers nips and tucks as a way to get ahead in life.

We all recognise that there is pressure to look good in China, where competition for jobs and romantic partners is stiff. We all want to stand out

For Qn below, relate to domestic abuse/marital rape; vaccination; abortion; euthanasia; sex operation to change gender; tattoos; food that we eat?; clothing?

Qn: 'People should have absolute authority over their own body,' Discuss. (NYJC Prelim 2021)