Development of personal lexicon

Medicalization
As used by Eugena Kaw in her essay “Medicalization of Racial Features: Asian American Women and Cosmetic Surgery”
Linked to Foucault’s birth of the clinic
Body parts that are isolated/fragmented and examined, problematized (in this case, the single eyelid) – redefined as inherently flawed and pathological
Carol Spitzack – the physician’s clinical eye functions like Foucault’s medical gaze

“But the cosmetic surgeon’s gaze doesn’t simply ‘medicalize’ the female body, it actually redefines it as an object for technological reconstruction.” (Balsamo, 1997:57)

Westernization
A term thrown about loosely in the discussion of the body and facial features concerning Asian/ethnic women. Undertaking blepharoplasty or rhinoplasty is seen as succumbing to the Western patriarch, a desire to become one that one is not.

“It is striking to learn how great is the demand for cosmetic alterations that are based on Western markers of beauty.” (Balsamo, 1997:62)

I see this term as problematic. It assumes that all ethnic women (it is notable that there is often only this dualism between ‘Western’ and ‘Ethnic’ in the discussion of race) aspire to a Western ideal of beauty, and are all cultural dupes.

“I am not sure why so many people think double eyelids looks more Western, because Caucasians have entirely different bone structure with recessed eye sockets, not just a superficial fold in their eyelid.” -bondagegeisha/Livejournal

Whitewashed/Whitewashing
A term that has been applied to many ethnic women who choose to undergo these particular cosmetic procedures. Seen as an attempt to become more ‘Western’ and less ethnic. Assumes a direct correlation between self-image and the desire to change ones features. Assumes an internalized racism towards one’s own race. A denial of one’s own ethnic traits and features.

Also: Banana, twinkie (Yellow on the outside, White inside) – assuming an entirely superficial embodiment of racial norms. A reading focused on the skin, on the body, as a means of problematizing and speaking of ethnic disavowal.

Body as machine, as production
Body as a project. Cyborg. Fluidity of identity. Increasing plasticity of the human body. Material productions of beauty. Resculpting. Improving. Manipulate.