The phrase “Don't judge a book by its cover,” by George Eliot, states that you shouldn't assume the value of something based on its appearance. However, in a world of glossy magazine covers photoshopped to perfection and filled with images of glamorous stars, the pressure to be physically attractive is higher than ever. As a result, more and more people judge others based on their appearance rather than their personality. This is a global phenomenon and the Middle East is no exception. In the case of the Middle East, 80% of surgeries in Iran are performed exclusively for cosmetic reasons and in Lebanon, one in three women has undergone some type of surgery (“Are Lebanese Women Afraid”, 2011; “The beauty obsession ”, 2013). Going “under the knife” or undergoing plastic surgery is a social norm; those who choose not to do so are often ostracized in some Middle Eastern social circles. However, what started this craze? Causes of the popularity of plastic surgery in the Middle East include: women want to emulate Westernized ideas of beauty, they want to display wealth and leisure as a status symbol of their position in society, and they want to attract a potential spouse. The main cause of plastic surgery is to follow the westernized idea of beauty presented in films, magazines and television programs. The 21st century, with its technological advancements, has brought satellite-connected televisions with various forms of entertainment to every home. These forms of entertainment predominantly come from Hollywood, a place with certain standards of beauty. Since most Western shows are also seen in the Middle East through television, even those residing in the Middle East believe that what they see on television...... half of the newspaper ......3 http:/ /www. theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/05/bringing-beverly-hills-cosmetic-surgery-to-the-middle-east/276302/ Sherwell, P. (2001). Young Iranians prefer plastic surgery to politics. June 3, 2011 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/1311372/Young-Iranians-prefer-plastic-surgery-to-politics.html Are Lebanese women afraid of being natural?. (2011). Retrieved December 27, 2011, from https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/are_lebanese_women_afraid_of_being_natural The obsession with beauty fuels Iran's voracious cosmetic surgery industry. (2013). Retrieved March 1, 2013, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2013/mar/01/beauty-obsession-iran-cosmetic-surgery The richest 1% own 46% of global wealth . (2013). Retrieved October 9, 2013, from http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/10/09/creditsuisse-wealth-idINDEE9980ER20131009
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