Beauty, Judgment, and Belonging: Gaze and Cultural Ideals of Appearance in the collectivistic Sinosphere

This thesis investigates how collectivist cultural values within the Sinosphere, specifically in China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, shape appearance-based judgments. Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines historical, cultural, and qualitative analysis, the study examines the transmission of traditional beliefs such as Confucian social ethics and physiognomy into contemporary practices of evaluating physical appearance. It explores how appearance functions not only as an aesthetic attribute but also as a marker of social competence, moral character, and economic potential within collectivist frameworks. Case studies from social media, cosmetic surgery practices, and everyday interpersonal interactions illustrate how beauty norms are continuously reinforced as part of broader social expectations. Qualitative interviews with individuals raised in Sinosphere cultures further highlight the lived experience of navigating appearance-based evaluations and the tensions between personal identity and collective ideals. The findings reveal that physical appearance remains a culturally significant site where individual agency and societal conformity intersect, demonstrating the enduring power of the collective gaze in shaping identity and belonging.