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Iris Jiang

Young women in China are rejecting high heels, makeup, diets, and other appearance-focused traditions because they view them as costly and unfair.
Instead, they are embracing buzz-cut hairstyles, loose clothing, and natural, cosmetic-free looks.
The trend, known as “escape beauty duty” or tuo mei yi in Mandarin, emerged last year and content about it has garnered more than 21 million views on Xiaohongshu.
The term is derived from the Chinese word yi, typically used to describe hard labour duty or military service, emphasising the excessive effort women often undertake to meet societal expectations of beauty.
The Post finds out more about the trend.
What is it?
Beauty duty describes the societal pressure women face to dress up and wear makeup, conforming to stereotypical female beauty standards prevalent in modern Chinese culture.
Among the most notable standards is the “white, young and thin” ideal, which values fair skin, a youthful appearance and a slender figure.

Some women go to extreme and painful lengths to meet these standards, such as enduring the high costs and the discomfort of starvation diets.
In a social media challenge called “A4 waist” in 2020, participants placed A4 paper vertically against their abdomen, aiming to have their waist completely covered by the 21-cm-wide paper.
In a similar fad, collarbones were expected to be prominent enough to keep a coin securely in place.
These trends sparked widespread debate on social media.
Escape
Younger Chinese generations are urging women to reject conventional notions of beauty and escape to freedom.
Last year, the “buzz-cut challenge” began trending on social media.
In China, long hair is often associated with femininity and beauty, so some young females started cutting their hair short as an act of rebellion.
Others have deliberately discarded their lipstick, high heels, and even bras, opting for loose clothing so they can be comfortable.
Celebrities who boldly defy societal norms have also received admiration on social media.
Last year, Hong Kong-Taiwan actress and model Shu Qi was praised for confidently showcasing her grey hair on Instagram, rather than dyeing it black.
Not everyone was a fan though.
“Your grey hair is an eyesore,” one online observer said.
“I want people to gradually watch me age,” Shu defiantly responded.
In January, Chinese actress Jiang Peiyao wore a down jacket instead of a thin gown to a cold, outdoor red carpet event.
“I suggest female stars follow this standard for events. It’s warm, comfortable, and beautiful,” one person online said.
Patriarchy fight
The trend is seen as a part of the ongoing battle against patriarchal oppression in East Asian nations.
Others include the Japanese women who launched a movement against dress codes requiring them to wear high heels in the workplace.

Similarly, South Korean women initiated the “Take Off the Corset” movement, challenging the country’s deeply entrenched and restrictive beauty culture.
However, some women feel that this trend stigmatises those who adhere to traditional beauty standards.
“If you dress up, you are considered to be pandering to men. The movement for women’s freedom seems to have become a new shackle,” one online observer wrote.


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Online content exploring unconventional ideas about what a woman should look like attracts 21 million views


The Post discovers why young women in China are turning against traditional notions of beauty.


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Online content exploring unconventional ideas about what a woman should look like attracts 21 million views