Caitlyn seems to think being a "woman" means, on a daily basis, pain, hours of preparation to look "womanly", having many "beauty" enhancements, etc.
"Nursing Clio" http://nursingclio.org in her blog today spoke to "make-up, a necessity or a pleasure? " the blog was stimulated by a comment from a woman who said "oh, i have to get a pedicure" during a discussion of it being warm enough for sandals. I like NC's self-questioning list for why she may be applying make-up. ............I think this is a good feminist attitude.
"So I am taking a stand for self-aware beautifying. Here is my stab at codifying my personal guidelines for assessing each element of my own beauty regimen:
- Does it provide more pleasure than pain?
- Would I rather spend the time/money on this than something else?
- Are my beauty practices damaging to people/things around me?
- If I feel I “need” to do this, would I feel the same way if I were a man?
- Have I tried skipping this part of my routine, or this aspect of self-presentation, to see how it feels to go without, and realize that the sky won’t fall?
- Am I appreciating other people’s appearances, and talking about beauty, in ways that support others’ self-expression?
For me, this means that Brazilian waxing is out, nail polish and lipstick are occasional, and face powder with SPF is routine for summer. I admire friend’s glitter toenails and salon highlights, but I don’t use them myself.........."
JP again: I am confounded about what happened to our 70s fight for women to be comfortable in their dress and appearance. All around me i see women in shoes and clothing that are obviously making them phtysically uncomfortable. WHY? There are obviously many outfits and shoes that we can wear that are perfectly comfortable. Are they so influenced by society, media, men, that they are willing to pay for their approval by being in pain, embarrassed, unable to sit down, unable to stride across a room, or run from an attacker? By the way striding across a room, rather then shuffling along because your dress is too tight or your heels too high, is much more sexy and powerful, if that's what you are going for!
It's too bad that Bruce lived in a household of women who taught him that glamorous, time-consuming accessories, and painful accoutraments are what make him a woman.
Well said, jean! In my dotage (70s), I started getting pedicures (no polish) for health reasons. I can no longer get at my feet to take care of them properly. Then I found out it feels good! So it's a necessary indulgence. LOL A few years ago, I added manicures, just for fun. Again, it's an indulgence for me - I don't care what anybody else thinks. But I don't wear makeup, other than some lipstick, and keep my hair cut very short. Fortunately our four daughters are mostly that way, too. Guess they had a good example. LOL
ReplyDeleteI know your dgts had a good example! I also like getting foot or full body massages. I have only once had a full-on manicure, but i frequently wear clear polish. That started at a point when my nails were splitting and i liked the shine. If i'm going "out" i wear a little eye liner so I know I have eyes 😜 and lipstick, so i know i'm not dead. But other than a short period in high school and college and young adulthood when i did some eyebrow plucking, i've seldom done anything painful to myself........... We're soooo sensible, lol. But you couldn't pay me enough to wear a pair of 5 or 6 inch heels or a spandex dress. I just have to be comfortable and i look good doing it!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, because I see as many men getting pedicures as I do women and where I do not see them getting a manicure they must, because now that Austin is all grown up there are many more men working in their business suit and their hands are not rough or calloused with many showing signs they are getting manicures. Color, no... Is that the difference?
ReplyDeleteWomen use their body to create an artful statement but then, so do men. A cowboy is proud of his hard creased jeans, big buckle and pearl snaps just as, a women feels a lift going out in her coordinated outfit with artfully applied make-up and, both men and women like their professionally cut hair.
I am thinking coordinated clothing, make-up, accessories and services that enhance appearance are used by both men and women. We all make our choices based on the statement we want to make - Some guys go hunting in jeans and a shirt with maybe and orange vest and others look forward to Hunting Season because of the special clothing and accessories stored just for Hunting Season just as, they have certain clothes they wear to a dance and yet another set to work in - certain boots for dancing and others for riding and still others to wear to the office.
I see the photos of Caitlyn more as a piece of art than as a dress code and that is the statement being made by many public figures so that, it is a thrill for a photographer to catch them in their everyday, go to the gym clothing.
As we admire art on the walls I think we admire beautiful art when someone presents themselves as the canvas - some artists are better than others creating work more of us admire, just as some folks, women or men are better at pleasing the eye by preparing their body as a piece of art. Some art is about beauty and some, like advertisements, sends a message identifying themselves as; sportsmen or sportswomen, successful business leaders, as ranchers, park rangers, as caretakers of a family, as sexy, as glamorous.
I think today we dress to send a message about who we are and to fit in with others who share the same interest rather than yes, back in the 70s and earlier it was about pleasing others with the fashion world dictating what was sexy and glamorous.
When Googling a page of Usain Bolt photos there are many showing him as a sexy male and not just as a world class runner - As Bruce I do not remember seeing him in sexy male photos but as Caitlyn he has found his sexuality and so the look...
I forgot - I get a full body massage about every two weeks. I spent money on three "indulgences" - a mani/pedi every three weeks, a full-body massage every two weeks, and a cleaning lady once a month. But then I don't do jewelry or clothes or shoes or hair (get hair cut every 3 weeks at Great Clips). Damn, but we're virtuous!
ReplyDeleteThe point in Nursing Clio's blog was that the woman she was talking with about wearing sandals felt compelled to get a pedicure before she put on sandals, not that she wished to get a pedicure. Yes, a lot of the young men in our family's next generation get pedicures, but i don't think they feel it is required of them, whether or not they are wearing sandals. I think it is oure pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI agree men and women like to feel good about their appearance. The question is, is each person making a decision about what it is that looks good on them, or how they look good, as we would expect confident adults to do, or are we still being required, in our own brains, as we were when teenagers, to wear what the crowd is telling us to, even if it hurts.
I think many more women follow society's requirements. I haven't seen any man in anything that resembles girdles and corsets and six inch heels, which we know are going to destroy women's hips and backs.
Oh, yes, there are sexy pictures of Bruce, and i understand Caitlyn wanting to visit that part of her being, but i'm hoping that she will not think that she has to be a glamorized sex symbol 24/7 and needs three hours of preparation before she can walk out the door. Unfortunately the Kardashians may push her solidly in that direction.
Apparently my hopes are lost. Caitlyn has been a "glamorized sex symbol" in every picture I've seen of her. The Kardashians stand! Oh lord, the message they are sending to girls and boys.
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