"If you look beautiful, the world would be yours" Does cosmetic surgery lead to gendered empowerment in Bangladesh?
Type
Master thesisNot peer reviewed

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Date
2015-08-14Author
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This study tries to explore the interrelated
dynamics among patriarchy, cosmetic surgery and
empowerment. While poverty, poor health
accessibility and gender inequality are common
problems in Bangladesh, a growing number of
cosmetic clinics are being established and a
number of women are increasingly taking up
cosmetic surgeries. This study seeks to explore
how and why women take cosmetic surgeries in
the context of patriarchy and further to
ascertain whether cosmetic surgeries enhance
empowerment of women in Bangladesh.
This study used in-depth semi structured
interviews, a case study method, focus group
discussion and observation to collect the data.
The produced data was analysed qualitatively to
present cases and direct statements from the
informants. The data was further analysed by
coding informants' responses into themes based
on the research objectives and the theories
used, namely, the Three Bodies Approach' and
Empowerment Theory'.
Despite some success stories with respect to
cosmetic surgeries, this study shows that there
are some women who continue to face socio-
economic hardships and challenges from the
beginning to the end during the process of
treatment. Economic instability, sexual
objectification, male superiority, uncertainty,
family break up, dependency on husband or
medical surgeons are the downbeat results
coming from several female patients. The study
further indicates that women consumers must
possess some form of courage to enable them to
go for cosmetic surgeries. The study further
shows that even if the women choose surgery, it
does not necessarily enhance their empowerment.
That is the surgery does bring changes in
physical appearance and might make them
attractive but it contributes little socially
in terms of enabling them to make own decision
in the contest of family and in community,
rather these women act as prescribed by
patriarchal norms and gendered rules,
unconsciously and sometimes deliberately.
Critical analysis from related theories and
contextual backgrounds might provide with a new
perspective over this newly growing practice;
that this industry, as a matter of fact is
regenerating patriarchal norms in society and
reproducing the westernized ideal body and
beauty structure, but contributes little
socially in terms of empowerment. The study
concludes with some questions and queries that
need more research to be answered.
Publisher
The University of BergenSubject
Cosmetic SurgeryWomenPatriarchyEmpowermentChoicecase studyFocus groupsInterviewqualitative researchBangladeshCosmetic SurgeryIdealBeautyEmpowermentPatriarchyPowerbody idealEmpowerment Theorythe Three Bodies Approachsexual objectificationgender inequalityhealth accessibilitycasestudieFokusgruppeintervjukvalitativ metodekosmetisk kirurgiskjønnhetpatriarkatetmyndiggjøringmaktkroppsidealseksuell objektiviseringkjønnsdiskrimineringtilgang på helsetjenesterCollections
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