Eyes Wide Open: Blinded Views on Ethnic Identity

65 E y e s Wi d e O p e n A k i r a A k a b a y a s h i Eyes Wide Open: Blinded Views on Ethnic Identity In the inaugural issue of this Journal, Dr. Ouellette presented an interesting perspective on the use of “Asian eye surgery” or otherwise referred to as blepharoplasty in children. The author claims that a fold in the upper eyelid has an impact on an individual’s identity and parents should not impose their aesthetic preferences on a child. The author even asserts that “[blepharoplasty] is similar to those involving surgical “correction” of ambiguous genitalia, and even female genital cutting.” From a strictly legal perspective, this may be correct in that both impose the risks of surgery onto a child, even if those risks are significantly different in magnitude. However, the author supports her argument with stereotypical examples that are often out of context. First, this reader has trouble with the author stating that the single-edged eyelid is an ethnic identity; at least, it is not a feature that should be recognized as a crucial determinant of one’s identity. Even asking my students and postdocs , many of them laughed at the idea that their identity was tied to the morphology of their eyelids. My impression is that the author has stereotypical and anachronistic views of Asians. Does she even define Asia — a region that consists of over half of the world’s population with over 100 sub-cultures? Even among the limited “Taiwan, Korea, and Japan” used by the author, there are certainly both inter- and intra-cultural differences. Second, the author uses the concept of identity without ever defining it. Has she considered that identity is an amalgamation of familial, professional, and social identities, in addition to gender and ethnicity? From a developmental psychology perspective, identity development begins at infancy and is established within social environments and through interpersonal relationships. This reader is uncertain as to the author’s definition of identity; however, when understood C O M M E N T A R Y Asian Bioethics Review March 2009 Volume 1, Issue 1 65–66 A s i a n B i o e t h i c s R e v i e w M a r c h 2 0 0 9 Vo l u m e 1 , I s s u e 1 66 as a more multifaceted concept, a child’s open future and identity would be unlikely affected by the fact that his/her single-edged eyelids are made doubleedged . Third, the author’s argument exemplifies a valid case against a non-therapeutic medical intervention, otherwise referred to as enhancement. That is, the author argues that blepharoplasty is used to enhance the aesthetics of the child (according to the parents’ preferences) and alter her identity as well. This reader agrees that blepharoplasty can change the aesthetics of a child’s face, but disagrees that it can alter his/her identity. Still other arguments exist against enhancements in children including, but not limited to, genetic intervention and growth hormone shots. Advocates suggest that such enhancements would open up a child’s future. I believe that the author’s argument can be made more persuasive by taking these new issues into account and placing less emphasis on rights and laws. Lastly, the author compares blepharoplasty with female genital mutilation (FGM). In a previous report, I discussed the pros and cons of FGM and believe that we first need to look at our own culture with a critical eye before discerning the traditions of another. “Some of the strongest critics to FGM are from developed civilized countries. But how do such critics confront problems within their own countries, such as issues in reproductive health/rights and child abuse? Before judging others, we should spend more time understanding the flaws of our own culture.”1 Put another way, people who criticize FGM might be blindly accepting their own culture. How is plastic surgery ethically or culturally considered in developed countries? To this reader, it appears that plastic surgery for adults is increasingly accepted without much hesitation — individuals taking physical risks in order...