Asian self care: appreciation or appropriation?

By Sophie Yohannon Staff Writer

From hair-oiling to Gua sha to facial rice masks, it seems that a new wellness or beauty trend crops up every week. It turns out, however, that many of these “trends” are not exactly new—countless mainstream self-care practices today actually have Asian origins that date back hundreds or thousands of years. As they make their way into modern Western culture, the newfound popularity of ancient Asian traditions in today’s beauty and wellness culture has elicited mixed feelings of both delight at the long-overdue acceptance of Asian self-care practices and unease with how these customs have been co-opted.

tentions in favor of more superficial ideals. “A lot of Asian beauty is surrounding [emotional health], over your physical appearance. People are deeming, for example, the Gua sha to be a fake Botox in a way. And that can be very damaging,” Cha says.

dent yet again with Goop and similar companies—the brand sells a $30 rubber ball meant for support and massage, $50 balance blocks, and a $1,000 heated yoga mat.

DAMI KIM

She also notes the growing commodification of these traditions. “When these products are pushed out on TikTok, a lot of people see it as a way to gain profit as well… a lot of companies are coming out with products that aren’t original,” she explains. One such company is actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand Goop. The Goop website offers various beauty and self-care products, including a gua sha, labeled as a “facial sculptor” and a “facial roller.”

Hair oiling and the spice turmeric are two more elements of South Asian culture that have become popularized in the U.S. Indian hair-oiling involves massaging any of a variety of oils, such as castor or coconut oil, into one’s hair for strengthening, conditioning, and growth-promoting benefits. “I used to put oil in my hair. It’s really good for strengthening and making your hair healthy and shiny,” junior Anannya Trehan says.

By Eliana Finberg Culture Editor

Blair junior Rihalya Sivakumar is optimistic toward this new appreciation of Asian cultures. “It’s good that people are integrating different parts of our culture into their lives… and it makes me happy when I see things that I’ve grown up with represented, whether in media or on other people’s [social media],” she says.

The sight of Sivakumar’s own cultural routines being embraced brings up memories of a time when they were instead ridiculed. “We used to get bullied or made fun of for this kind of stuff,” Sivakumar recalls. “I just think it’s kind of interesting to see how things have evolved.”

One notable Asian practice on the rise in the West is gua sha, a face sculpting technique aimed at rejuvenating the skin and reducing puffiness with the use of a flat, indented polished stone typically made of jade or rose quartz. This traditional Chinese method of stimulating blood flow by scraping a tool across one’s face and body was originally used in cases of heat exhaustion, muscle pain, or illness, and was more commonly performed with whatever was available—a spoon, a coin, or one’s hand. Additionally, this practice focused less on external, appearance-related benefits, and more on the mindbody connection, working to improve mindfulness and internal well-being.

In an interview with Silver Chips, TikTok content creator Marianne Cha (@mariii_chaa), who gained popularity on the platform for her Korean skincare videos, explains that the modern take on traditional Asian self-care overlooks the original deeper in-

“When people are profiting off of other people’s culture, that’s where it becomes a problem [of not] giving credit to where it is [due],” Cha explains. “Even though it might not seem like that big of a deal, it does stem back into the past for Chinese people.”

The gua sha method is not the only Asian wellness practice whose Westernized modern form lacks the depth of its origins. Yoga, which has been popular in the U.S. for several decades, has evolved into a commodified practice centered around fitness and trendiness that often features a preoccupation with material accessories.

The Western embodiment of yoga strays away from the practice’s ancient Indian roots, which are more complex and based in reflection, selflove, and daily routine. “It’s [no longer] mindfulness and self-release, and it’s gone to just spending money on yoga mats and your equipment and stuff, and it’s all becoming consumerized,” Sivakumar explains. “It’s all about what you have, when in reality, the ancient Indian practice is not about that.”

Such consumerization is evi-

As for turmeric, the ginger-related plant has been featured in face masks and soaps, as well as smoothies and other foods as a dietary supplement. “It’s good for your skin [and] it opens up your pores,” Trehan explains. “I’ve been doing it [since] before it became a trend. And my mom has been doing it, my grandma, everybody.”

A similar practice from East Asian culture is the application of rice water for one’s hair and skin. “I’ve used the rice water mask; every time I make rice at home, I would just save the rice water and then it would make my skin feel really nice,” senior Charleen Dai explains.

Korean skincare is also a notable Asian influence on the Western world. Many toners, serums, and moisturizers, as well as the widely used pimple patch, are results of Korean innovation dating back decades or centuries. Taking care of oneself, particularly one’s skin, is a priority in South Korean culture for many, and with unique, natural ingredients, high efficacy, and a wide range of products, Korean skincare has become quite appealing and a routine staple for many non-Asian Americans.

Many in the Asian community appreciate that their culture is now being embraced in many new ways, and feel that sharing culture is a positive thing—as long as people respect the original purpose and roots of a practice and give credit where it is due. “There’s a very fine line between cultural appreciation and appropriation,” Cha says. Sivakumar emphasizes the importance of this balance, explaining that “you should always be a bit educated on where [the beauty trend] comes from, what the proper practices are, and culturally, what it means.”

A Deloitte study found that women read more than men, and men are much more likely to read books written by other men. That means that female authors have a readership that is predominantly female. Even if the books men are reading have main female characters, they’re not written by women, and the female experience continues to only be read about by women. It’s important to read books written by women, so as Women’s History Month comes to a close, here are some recommendations of books written by women, about women.

Similar to “The Imitation Game,” a film about Alan Turing, “The Rose Code” by Kate Quinn follows three girls who work at Bletchley Park during World War II. Though they come from different backgrounds, Orla, Beth, and Mab become friends quickly as they try and navigate the secrecy they are all sworn to. Despite being torn apart by the war, their loyalty to their country reunites them several years later, and they save the world from Russian spies.

While that part of the book is fictitious, the descriptions of the war and the code breaking work that the workers at Bletchley Park accomplished are based on historical events. The book details the large number of women who worked as cryptanalysts, translators, and messengers, which, in real life, was about 75 percent of the workers there. And even in the midst of war, it highlights many moments that feel like part of the female experience: getting ready to go dancing, gossipping in the back room, and standing up to those in charge.

When I was younger, I was fascinated with Greek mythology, and constantly read the stories of Hercules, Odysseus, and the gods. Many years later, I picked up “Circe” by Madeline Miller, which offered those same myths from a different perspective. Circe, a minor witch who was deemed unattractive and unwanted as a child, is exiled to a small island after revealing that she practices witchcraft.

She lives a lonely and isolated life, with her only company being the god Hermes and the occasional sailor.

However, once they realize that she is on an island alone with no one to protect her, many sailors take advantage of her, which was never included in any of the traditional myths that I read. Miller’s novel, told in flowery prose, offers a unique perspective on single women at the time and their value, and tells a story of female empowerment and thought in a time of repression.

When people ask me about a book that made me think the most, my first response is always “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The novel follows Evelyn as she goes through her life and career in Hollywood in the 1960s, stopping to detail the seven husbands she has along the way. Despite all of the choices that Evelyn made throughout her life, she lived without any regrets, and continued to be a powerful character for those in the book and the outside world alike.

And so, whether it’s books about women or by women, about women from long ago or in the future, I encourage you to read and support women authors and characters this Women’s History Month.

Although none of her marriages last, the complex connections between characters each bring a new meaning to the word “relationship.” The intricacies of each one, along with how they’re all tied together at the end, capture an essence of humanity and femininity that isn’t present in many of the other books I’ve read.

And so, whether it’s books about women or by women, about women from long ago or in the future, I encourage you to read and support women authors and characters this Women’s History Month.

300th