[quote=“Dragonbones”]The stereotype I’ve heard 2nd-hand from a few locals, just a few ignorant hicks IMO, is that foreigners date loose gals. Another is that they date less attractive gals. I think part of it is jealousy on the part of a few losers like the ones online who troll the cross-cultural romance forum on a major local BBS. On the other hand, perhaps part of it comes down to different stereotypes of beauty. A lot of locals think that pale skin and big eyes (especially with a ‘double eyelid’, as locals say) represent the ideal of beauty. But no small number of Western guys seem to like women with very Asian features, such as smaller, almond-shaped eyes, the single eyelid, and even the ‘phoenix eyes’ with their elongated outer corner, as well as a nice, natural dark Asian skin tone. These women may come across as less attractive to many locals.
Finally, as with many stereotypes, a lot of people tend to form them based on a few examples, whether representative or not. I’ve also heard a few locals wonder how the foreign backpacker slobs get such hot girlfriends.
So I figure such comments are best ignored, since they’re generally ignorant.[/quote]
I pretty much agree with everything you said here.
[quote=“Mucha Man”]I’ve encountered this once in all my years in Taiwan. And it was a polite question from a couple in their late 30s. Actually I don’t remember how the question was broached. They might have said something innocuous such as what do foreigners find attractive. I explained that what many Taiwanese think is beautiful is very ordinary to us: big eyes, white skin. As DB said, many find typical Asian features exotic and sexy, and hence “ordinary” people very attractive. Conversely, many asians find ordinary westerners as beautiful as movie stars. The result I said is two people who may be very common looking in their own culture get together believing the other is super hot.
The couple thought that was pretty funny and agreed it was a nice win-win situation for all involved.[/quote]
Definitely. And who cares, anyway? As long as the couple is happy, what should the opinions of others really matter.
Also, your description is very apt, IMO.
[quote=“Dragonbones”]It’s true that if viewed with a positive attitude, it’s a win-win. Everyone finds a mate and is happy.
Unfortunately there are those who cast aspersions on what the others like, or who only see beauty as skin deep, which of course it is not. There are many wonderful, beautiful people who do not have superficial attractiveness. Fortunately, there are many people, Western and Asian alike, who can see that deeper beauty. The truly beautiful person will still be beautiful when he or she is old and wrinkled. Jane Goodall, for instance, is still beautiful, infinitely more so than any of the video bimbos of the moment, and always will be.[/quote]
Also very true. I have wondered if locals would consider my wife attractive, as she isn’t the typical half starved looking type. She has a larger than average bone structure (for a Taiwanese, perhaps because she’s half Taiwanese Aboriginal), but I’ve always found her to be very attractive as I don’t really like women who are too thin.
Then again, I’ve seen many local guys with girlfriends that would be considered anything but skinny in Taiwan, so I’m inclined to go with what you said before. It’s just stereotyping.
Example: My first boss in Taiwan used to amuse himself by asking me if I thought this or that girl was attractive (random girls on the street when we went out to buy our daily before work tea), and if I said yes he always replied, “You see. We would think she’s not attractive.”
One day we saw a real bombshell (I thought), and when he asked me what I thought I said, “Shit, she fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. Twice! She’s so ugly I wouldn’t be seen dead with her, even if I was disguised as a half blind retarded hunchback!” (Something along those lines, anyway. 
)
True to form, he responded, “Hah! You see! In Taiwan we would think she is very beautiful!”
I then said, “You know what? I thought so too, I just said she was ugly to see what you really thought.”
He never asked me that question again.
