Feb 06 2008
the chinese beauty industry and lack of plaintiff’s attorneys
An interesting ABC News story last month that made front page of China Digital Times recently caught my attention for two reasons: first, the incredible price that women are willing to pay for “beauty”. I have been reading countless stories about how the Chinese middle class is impossible to target, but here, we find at least one rather universal theme: middle class (or upper class) women are willing and able to pay for expensive beauty treatments. I am not advocating this–I am just pointing this out. (in fact, I wish that such things did not succeed in China) An excerpt of the story from ABC:
China’s increasing wealth and love affair with Western products has spilled over into the realm of fashion and beauty, and many Chinese women are paying a very high price for it:
The fee is about $250 — an average monthly salary — but worth every penny in their quest for that beautiful look. The “look” is a Western one they constantly see on their television screens, towering big city billboards and in countless fashion magazines.
Fashion magazine editor Hong Huang said, “Chinese women are going completely ga-ga over fixing their face, fixing their breasts, fixing their legs…”
Hung Huang says whiter, thinner and taller represent the new standard of beauty here, and many will go to extraordinary lengths to achieve it, believing that good looks will lead to better jobs and more opportunities in life.
The second reason is caught my attention is because there are costs to this “beauty” that are far beyond monetary. The article continues:
While that is an extreme example, there is now growing concern in China that people are taking too many risks and paying too high a price for beauty.
There have been numerous reports in the Chinese media, exposing plastic surgery quacks and dangerous fake products, including bogus skin creams that burn and scar.
And one devastating breast enhancement gel reportedly injected in up to 300,000 women is now banned by the government, but victims are still suffering from enormous pain and disfigurement. Some were even forced to have their breasts removed.
But just like the booming economy that it mirrors, the beauty business here shows no signs of slowing, even though some women might pay a terrible price.
I look at the situation and doubt there will be much in the way of redress for those who were harmed. Unlike the United States, Chinese plaintiff’s attorneys don’t receive large pay-days for bringing class actions. (caveat: I summered at such a firm in law school) In fact, Chinese plaintiff’s lawyers are frequently hounded by the government and discouraged from doing this sort of work.
Which is better: an overly litigious society where people are protected and legal costs high, or a non-litigious society where people are harmed but businesses need not fear plaintiff’s attorneys? I always hear criticisms about the U.S. system, but I think this at least is worth pondering in China’s case.
