PRETTY GIRLS AND ANGRY SCHOOL SHOOTERS

Misogyny takes many forms.   Common wisdom says that everyone loves a pretty girl.  But, in fact, males who feel intense frustration that a lovely girl doesn’t return his feelings of affection may take a gun to school and shoot her.  The tragic events at high schools in Indiana and Texas prove this point.

Beautiful women have always sensed that their appearance may  arouse intense feelings of envy and jealousy. A pretty girl may be the kindest, most gentle soul imaginable, but her looks may evoke hostility  from other girls, who will label her shallow, vain, and any other adjectives they can summon up to diminish the fact that she’s just way too good looking.   Although not every man will decide to shoot her, some  men will hate her because they realize they don’t stand a chance to win her affections. They will probably call her dumb, crazy, bitchy,  or whatever hateful term comes to mind.  Very young women often don’t realize this.  Perhaps that’s why Muslims think it best if women cover their hair and faces.  At least they won’t get shot by some  jealous maniac.

I know of a wealthy mother who was so determined to have a beautiful daughter that she submitted her to a nose job,  chin lift,  and other surgeries.  Her hair is done in an expensive salon, far out of reach for average teenagers, and her make up is a Sephora triumph.  Designer clothes on a perfect figure complete the picture. Why then, does this girl look so sullen and miserable when you see her in public with her parents?   Pulchritude is a gift, but it can also be a curse.

MEN, WOMEN AND #BEAUTY

Young women today have certainly come a long way since the Women’s Movement of the 60’s.  They hold important jobs, receive equal pay, and don’t have to make a choice between family or a career.  They can travel far and wide and do wonderful things.  But there’s one place where women haven’t progressed at all.  In fact, they taken several steps backward as far the time and money  they must devote to their physical  appearance.  

When my husband and I are going to some public event, he merely has to shower and shave, throw on the same clothes he’s worn for  10  years,  and he’s good to go.  I, of course, must shower, curl my hair, find something stylish to wear (no bell bottoms, please) , and finally, apply the dreaded makeup. Then, there’s the fingernail and toenail polish, the earrings, the necklaces, the bracelets, the scarves.  I would guess women spend five times as much time and money on their appearance as men.  So, there’s the inequality.

50 years ago, a woman who wore black eyeliner, false eyelashes,  fake fingernails,  4 shades of eyeshadow , rouge and dangling earrings  was probably in the theater or the world’s oldest profession.  Most everyone else wore a bit of foundation, possibly some eyebrow pencil, a dab of lipstick, and off they went. 

Nowadays, all you have to do is turn on the news to see how things have changed.  Look at  #CNN, ABC, or # Fox News. The females have perfect hair.  (How many hours must they spend with hairdressers?). They wear as much eyeliner and mascara as an Egyptian princess.  And of course, the eyelash extensions and trendy clothes are a must.   Their teeth are pearly white, their faces glitter and glow, and their skirts go up above their knees. The women on #PBS aren’t quite so made up and girly girl, but even there, the dangling earrings that catch the light during serious discussions are distracting.  Male newscasters don’t have to look glamorous.  They’re supposed to look serious, which they wouldn’t if they wore even half as much makeup  and revealing clothes  as their female counterparts.  And it bothers me that they’ve tried to tart up Sarah Huckabee.  I liked her just the way she was.

Women are  not equal as far as appearance is concerned. The cosmetics industry is growing more prosperous, and gentlemen still prefer painted ladies.