Beautiful Sisters, a short digital documentary

Intersecting race, gender and beauty, Beautiful Sisters examines blepharoplasty, known as eyelid surgery, and prominent amongst Asians and Asian American women. The film aims to untangle a web of controversy involving Western influences, societal beauty standards, preservation of culture, and choices of the individual. Through research, interviews and a personal narrative, Beautiful Sisters provides a closer look at how we perceive and construct ideas about beauty, racial and gender identity. Beautiful Sisters premiered at the 25th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and has screened at the Asian American International Film Festival in New York City, the Arab American National Museum, UC Berkeleys Women of Color in Arts Festival, and the Pacific Film Archive. The film received Honorable Mention for the Eisner Prize, UC Berkeleys award for the arts.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• asian americans
• youth
• women
• beauty
• insecurity
• eyelid surgery
• cosmetic surgery
• blepharoplasty
• asian pacific film festival
• berkeley

[StopSexualUrges]

surgeons making a lot of money out of this stuff..

[seeconrun]

@StopSexualUrges

Blepharoplasty among other cosmetic surgeries are indeed lucrative and way too profitable for plastic surgeons. I'd rather use that money to travel and surf.

[MyLife10192]

First of all, I just want to say Kudos to you! I'm a korean-american and have been wondering about the double eyelid surgery, I was like Rosa, however I feel that getting the procedure done is like a really extreme make-up process. What's make up for? To make you more beautiful then you really are. I say: Do the freaking surgery, but before you do, make sure you won't regret it, because regardless if you do the surgery you are still beautiful, and your still you. thanks for the documentary!!!!

[StopSexualUrges]

@MyLife10192

i am a bit confused is the reason why these girls do eyelid surgery is to look less asian?

one of the asian girls said that its almost a rite of passage, tats a pretty scary thought that surgery is a rite of passage for some ethnic groups : (

[seeconrun]

@StopSexualUrges

This surgery is done for a lot of reasons, particularly because there's not much appreciation or "beauty" seen in people with single eyelids. :/ If you look at magazines and all over the media at what's considered "beautiful," it's women with big eyes, light skin, skinny legs, big boobs..the list goes on. And sadly, the reality is that a lot of us buy into that. I try my best not to, but it's tough.

[seeconrun]

@MyLife10192

MyLife10192, thank you--we're not alone! It's amazing how many young women think about these things, and so few of them talk about it. I'm hoping to change that!

[inachu]

I as a white guy if I married an asian girl who was determind to get her eyes done then I would divorce her.

[seeconrun]

Thanks for all the comments.

HonorRepresentative, thank you. It's like the old saying goes, "Beauty is within the beholder." If only we had the tools to believe what others see, or more so, to believe in ourselves. We gotta love what we were given.

whatsgoingon07, as crazy as it sounds, a lot of societal standards are brainwash and dictated by the media, colonialism and politics. We should definitely look more deeply into ways to appreciate what we have. i agree, why change a good thing?

[HonorRepresentative]

(2) However I find it interesting how my and some of the women in your documentary's view of themselves/myself occurs like the most beautiful way. Even though there may be evidence around that supports the opposite. But it's like you've said--no matter how much you tell your sister how beautiful she is, she (we) have to see it for ourselves. All the best with your filmmaking. Great piece.

[HonorRepresentative]

Hi Connie,

Thanks for posting your documentary. I really enjoyed it. I'm of African descent and oddly, people often tell me they think I look Asian. Go figure. Anyway I found this interesting because I think we're all impacted by the larger community in which we live. I happen to love my eyes, and have a thing for small eyes as it meets w/ Japanese men--but then, I hate my big legs, which men seem to really love. It is how I am built naturally, but according to my ideal look...I'm way off.

[whatsgoingon07]

PERSONALLY I PREFER THE BEFORE NOT AFTER!!!

[whatsgoingon07]

wtf is wrong with u asians? has Whites brainswashed you so much to much u ashamed of your 'natural' features?

FACT1: Black men and Latinos love their women's 'natural curves'

FACT2: Asian women are beautiful because of their 'eyes' and high cheek bones cute nose and small frame

even men of other races chase after you girls!!!!!!! why change a good thing??

Latino luvs asian mamis Holla!!