Taiwan's unique betel-nut beauties have long been the subject of debates on the issues of the objectification of women's bodies and females' freedom to develop their own self-image.
Years after those scantily-clad girls became a distinctive phenomenon in the country -- even drawing attention from international media including CNN and the BBC -- an installation art show has put aside the disputes and attempted to display the social and cultural effects of betel-nut beauties through art.
"Betel-nut beauties are a reflection of the local culture in Taiwan, and also a common experience shared by all Taiwanese. My work is about documenting these women, without any judgment of morality," said artist Wu Chung-hua (吳瓊華), general director of Taiwan Women's Art Association, who has spent 10 years studying the lives of betel-nut beauties.
PHOTO: HSIEH FUNG-CHIU, TAIPEI TIMES
With dummies dressed up with bras and boots, and colorful paintings of sexy girls with huge breasts, the "Made in Taiwan Betel-nut Beauties" installation art exhibition, which opened last Sunday at the Taipei 101 Mall, demonstrates the image of betel-nut beauties of different generations, from working-class middle-aged women to the sexy girls who wear almost nothing in order to attract more business.
After a two-year field study of betel-nut stands in which she conducted interviews with more than 100 betel-nut beauties, Wu said that despite criticism from conservatives and strict regulations by local governments, the industry continues to thrive. And the image of betel-nut beauties has undergone a transformation.
"Male control over female bodies as a commodity definitely exists in the industry. But with more girls choosing to dress sexily in exchange for more earnings, I think the industry has transformed into one with more female awareness of the power of their bodies," she said.
While Wu stressed that the show focused on the artistry of the betel-nut beauties' images, the issues hidden behind the art remain open to debate.
Defending the autonomy of betel-nut beauties, Josephine Ho (何春蕤) shrugged off criticism that these women damage the nation's moral climate.
"The betel-nut beauties have every right to dress freely, and deserve to have the chance to actively strive for economic gain. They affirm the attractiveness of their own bodies and make an honest living, and what's wrong with that?" said Ho, coordinator of the Center for the Study of Sexuality at National Central University.
According to Ho, who has studied the betel-nut beauty phenomena for years, betel-nut girls are mostly from working class backgrounds and their outfits are merely a way of earning more money. Society should stop judging them from a patriarchal point of view.
Some women's rights advocates, however, have a less sympathetic view of the beauties.
"Those women are being exploited. They aren't revealing their bodies out of a sense of autonomy or freedom. Instead, they are catering to patriarchal notions of beauty. They strive to please men and finally become products to be consumed," said Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容), chief executive officer at the Garden of Hope Foundation.
According to industry estimates, there are roughly 100,000 kiosks selling betel nuts across the nation.
To attract more customers, vendors started hiring scantily clad young women in 1996. When a few cases of prostitution associated with betel-nut vending became known, critics said the women were damaging the nation's moral climate and that the government should take measures to crack down on the trade.
The "Made in Taiwan Betel-nut Beauties" exhibition runs through May 29 at Page One Bookstore of the Taipei 101 Mall. Call the bookstore at 02-8101-8282 ext. 6677 or 6699 for more information.
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in
RSS