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South Americans in Europe have plastic surgery to look more European
We've written here before about people traveling to undergo plastic surgery, but moving to another country then getting plastic surgery to look more like the people whose country/continent you are living in, is a whole new (not to mention depressing) concept. An increasing number of immigrants in Europe are opting to change their facial features in order to look more "western", or less conspicuous on the street. Apparently, the nose is most characteristic of where we come from which is why rhinoplasty is the most popular surgery amongst these immigrants. In Spain, the surgery costs Euro 5000 and takes 20 minutes.
In one of my previous posts I wrote how although Spain can be culturally insensitive, I didn't find Spain racist at all. But after reading that about 2,500 South Americans (mainly Ecuadorians and Colombians) have nose jobs every year (many of those live in Madrid), it made me think again: Why do these Latinos want to go to such an extent to fit in? What sort of discrimination are they suffering?
How have we let social stigmas in our so-called "multi-cultural-multinational-society" go so far as to warrant reactions like this?
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Europe, Spain, News
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Val Aug 20th 2008 5:25PM
"These Latinos." First of all, we're not "these" Latinos, we are simply Latinos. I strongly recommend you to take a look at how Latinos are treated in Spain. Research the use of the word "sudaca" (equivalent to the N-word in the USA but for Latinos in Spain) and how much the Spaniards use it. Read a little about the strong and heavy discrimination "native-looking" people have to deal with in the main cities of Spain before writing anything like this. Are you sure the nose jobs are done to look "more" European? With such strong and distinctive features, I doubt just a nose job will make any Latinos look more "European."
And please, don't refer to us a "these" Latinos.
Abha Aug 20th 2008 6:45PM
Hi Val: Thanks for the comment. Perhaps I'm not entirely aware of how Latinos are treated in Spain. And to clarify: When I said "these" Latinos, I was refering specifically to the ones who choose to have nose-jobs, nothing else; I suppose that wasn't clear enough, my bad.
theglassrat Aug 21st 2008 9:09PM
Spain not racist? You have not been to the country I partially grew up in. (I'm a Spaniard of Spanish blood, but oh am I glad I am when I am in Spain..)
Luis Zarazua Sep 16th 2008 10:32PM
Interesting aritcle, I've been to Spain four times. My travles have taken me to Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, San Sebastian, Granada, and a long stay in Sevilla. I have never experienced obvious discrimination but I am not naive. I have noticed little things and have recieved fair to good treatment throughout my travels. I guess it's the fact that I'm moving around in touristy places and show that I have spend money to spend. I'm Mexican and my features clearly reveal this. I consider myself intelectually sharp when speaking in Spanish or English, this is due in great part to the fact that I have earned two advanced degrees and have been an educator for 13 years. What I mean to say with this is that what I say abroad seems to interest others. I am extremely curious to truly know what is is like to be a Latino immigrant in Spain. I don't think thar I would change my nose under any circumstances though.