[chaostheory]

This market is not really new... It seems a lot of E/SE Asians got cosmetic eye lid surgery to look more Western

http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/1101020805/story2.html

To understand it better all you have to do is walk around in a big Japanese city and look at the print ads (or hell just watch some of the commercials)... it still perplexes me to this day

[ajju]

This is not the same. It does not come out of a fascination with westerners and is a much older bias. See my other comments for an more detailed explanation.

[chaostheory]

yeah you're right

I forgot about ancient Egypt where it was looked down upon if a woman was dark (it looked as if she worked the fields during the day). It was alright for men though (since they have to command slaves/troops day or night)