Skin Whitening Phenomenon in Taiwan

• Main Authors: olaide Anjorin, 安年蒙
• Other Authors: Kang, Ting-Yu
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/hw629g

碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 國際傳播英語碩士學位學程(IMICS) === 108 === ABSTRACT Skin whitening products are commercially available and are easily used for cosmetic purposes to get a lighter skin complexion. Previous research studies on skin whitening phenomenon primarily focuses on the harmful health hazards of the ingredients in the skin whitening products. They also focus on the colonial racial aspect that still impacts societies globally. This study explores the cultural mind frame of women in Taiwanese society by examining the cultural normalization of the skin-whitening phenomena across different ethnic groups in Taiwan. Focusing on how deeply embedded the process of skin whitening is in modern Taiwanese society. Employing a qualitative research method in the form of in-depth interviews on elven Taiwanese women from the different ethnicity groups on the Island. Using the theories of globalizing notions of beauty and cultural imperialism and employing the grounded theory and thematic analysis to code and break down the findings. Results of the analysis of the interviews illustrated that the skin whitening phenomenon is one that here to stay, as many just don’t view it as a social issue in Taiwan. Results showed that most people were unaware of the health risk that comes with using these whitening products.