The job of a news anchor is one with immense pressure. For female anchors, there is an extra pressure regarding their look on the screen. There has been a set of unsaid beauty standards which have been followed by organisations. A Korean woman recently chose to break a taboo by opting to wear glasses which she presented the morning news. This move by Lim Hyeon-ju was applauded by many, and Lim even became a sensation. It was the first time any female presenter wore glasses on the news bulletin, ditching the contact lenses.

Lim's action was not only to be free from the tiring contact lenses, but she also wanted to send a message to Korean society. Women news presenters have the rule to wear contact lenses which does not apply to male workers. In fact, women workers in movie theatres too are not allowed to wear glasses on duty. It was time someone addressed the ridiculous beauty norm. After Lim did put on her glasses, she got a barrage of questions about her move while several others appreciated that she took the first step. “I hope that people wouldn’t think that it is uncomfortable to watch a news presenter wearing glasses, just because that presenter is a woman,” Lim said n interview with Yonhap News Agency.

According to government figures, almost 70% of the people under the age of 30 in the country suffer from the condition of nearsightedness. But it is very rare to see a female newscaster wearing glasses. Lim wore a round-rimmed pair of glasses and now taking her example even other females have followed. Lim has in fact, started a trend. Jeju Air, a South Korean airline, is now allowing women in the crew to wear glasses.

Lim's decision to wear spectacles also emphasises how women till now averted wearing glasses and bore the trouble of contact lenses to be inline with the elaborate beauty standards.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 05, 2018 03:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).