Modified Bodies, Material Selves: Beauty Ideals in Post-Reform Shanghai

The pursuit of beauty in Shanghai is influenced by middle-class Chinese and Western women's attitudes, which are examined in Julie E. Starr's book Modified Bodies, Material Selves. It adds to the discussion on the effects of China's economic reforms by focusing on the interactions between late capitalism and various bodies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 25 July 2023
Publisher: University of Washington Press

Shanghai, a bustling metropolis, is renowned for its pervasive beauty standards, emphasizing slender bodies, white skin, and large eyes. These ideals permeate the city, with salons and weight-loss clinics offering a wide range of products and treatment options, promising a better life to its inhabitants. Set against the backdrop of China's post-reform era, Modified Bodies, Material Selves delves into the contrasting attitudes of middle-class Chinese and Western women towards the pursuit of beauty. Through comparative ethnography, anthropologist Julie E. Starr examines how experiences of bodies and embodied identities are culturally produced for both groups of women. By focusing on the ways in which late capitalism intersects with diverse bodies, Starr joins an ongoing conversation about the impact of recent economic reforms on social life in China.

In this insightful book, Starr combines theories of embodiment, the politics of appearance, and the bodily nature of selfhood in the twenty-first century. By exploring these themes, Modified Bodies, Material Selves offers fresh perspectives to current debates in anthropology, women's and gender studies, and East Asian studies.

The book begins by examining the historical and cultural contexts that shape beauty ideals in Shanghai. Starr highlights the influence of Western media, consumer culture, and the rise of the beauty industry on Chinese society. She explores how these factors have contributed to the proliferation of body-shaming, diet culture, and the pressure to conform to Western beauty standards.

Starr then turns her attention to the experiences of middle-class Chinese and Western women living in Shanghai. Through in-depth interviews and participant observation, she explores how these women negotiate the pursuit of beauty in a society that values physical appearance. She examines the ways in which they engage with beauty products, treatments, and fitness regimes, as well as the social and cultural implications of their beauty practices.

One of the key findings of the book is the contrast between the attitudes of middle-class Chinese and Western women towards the body. Starr notes that Chinese women are often more focused on achieving a harmonious and balanced body, while Western women prioritize achieving a slim and toned body. She explores the cultural and historical factors that contribute to these differences, including the Confucian belief in the importance of inner beauty and the historical marginalization of women in Western societies.

Starr also examines the politics ascribed to bodies and embodied identities in Shanghai. She explores how beauty standards are used to reinforce social hierarchies, perpetuate gender inequality, and marginalize certain groups of women. She highlights the ways in which women are subjected to body shaming, discrimination, and violence, particularly those who do not conform to traditional beauty norms.

Through her comparative analysis, Starr sheds light on the complex relationship between late capitalism, the body, and embodied identities. She argues that the pursuit of beauty in Shanghai is not merely a matter of individual choice but is also shaped by broader social and economic forces. She explores how late capitalism intersects with notions of gender, race, and class, creating new forms of inequality and oppression.

Modified Bodies, Material Selves is a valuable contribution to the field of anthropology, women's and gender studies, and East Asian studies. It offers a nuanced and empathetic understanding of the ways in which beauty ideals are culturally produced and the experiences of women who navigate these ideals. Starr's comparative approach provides fresh insights into the complex relationship between late capitalism, the body, and embodied identities, and contributes to our understanding of the social and cultural transformations underway in China and beyond.

In conclusion, Modified Bodies, Material Selves is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of beauty, culture, and society. It offers a rich and nuanced analysis of the ways in which beauty ideals are shaped and experienced, and sheds light on the complex relationship between late capitalism, the body, and embodied identities. Through its comparative approach, the book contributes to our understanding of the social and cultural transformations underway in China and beyond.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295751764