BEIJING, Mar. 8-- Following the rapid economic and social development of recent years, Chinese women have become more and more bold about their pursuit of beauty. In fact, the aesthetic of Chinese women has already experienced a sea change.

A female college senior told the journalist that the old Chinese saying"girls embellish themselves for those who admire them" has, in her opinion, become a tired clich. Nowadays, girls style themselves for those they like. Nobody dresses up solely for admirers anymore, but rather for those that they admire.According to sociologists, in terms of gender relations, Chinese women have taken the initiative, turning from the conquered into the conqueror. Some women have even attained true independence, becoming individuals in both their lifestyle and mentality.

Chinese women have also begun to emphasize their sex appeal, instead of trying to cover up their female characteristics. Wang Si'e, a fashion designer, said that from the 1950s to the 1970s, Chinese women attached great weight to simplicity, ability and male strength. At that time, women were shy about flaunting their female form; they wore short hair and loose dresses. However, the aesthetic of recent years has returned to the grace and sex appeal of the female body. Urban women have taken courageous steps to show off their slender legs and have shown more and more of a preference for tank tops and long curly hair. In order to achieve a higher degree of femininity, many women spend small fortunes on plastic surgery such as breast and buttock enhancement.

Women now also work on their temperament rather than their make-up. Cosmetics have taken a back seat to cultivation. Many girls have taken up ballet, bodybuilding, music lessons and the pursuit of literature. With the help of fashion magazines, they learn how to shop and apply simple, natural make-up. They seek to match their external appearance with their sense of individuality.

(Source: chinanews.cn)