Beauty Standards in the Age of Wireless Internet
For better or worse, many women spend a good portion of their time improving their physical appearance. They wax, pluck and shave hair; exfoliate and moisturize your skin; color, curl, straighten, blow, and curl hair; they cover, powder and blur their skin; they pop, collect and dry your blemishes and blackheads; they run, lift weights, and do pilates and yoga; they watch portion sizes, choose salads over burgers, and watch the bathroom scale. Men certainly engage in some of these common body maintenance techniques. They have been known to buy dandruff shampoo, go to the gym and apply acne creams. But they have a number of factors that reduce the amount of time and money they actually spend on these beauty rituals. Any quick search with your wireless internet connection will probably show you that most beauty products are geared towards women, consequently.
First of all, men are less judged on their appearance than women. If a man gains a couple of pounds, this is not a cause for concern. A brief search of your wireless Internet connection will show you many large men who remain successful as actors, musicians, newscasters, and politicians: Alec Baldwin, Michael Moore, Dennis Hassert, Lou Dobbs, James Gandolfini, John Goodman, Rush Limbaugh, and Meatloaf have found respect in weights that would certainly classify them as significantly overweight if not obese. Try doing a similar inventory of women and you’ll get a shorter list. Rosie O’Donnell, Roseanne Barr, Kathy Bates: the mind strains to think of more, and this list is made up of two comedians and a character actor.
Similarly, age creates a gender difference. The laugh lines and the raven feat and even a “touch of grey” make the men look tough and wise, rather than old, tired and “witch” looking. Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds, and Viggo Mortenson are all hot. The only woman over 50 who seems to get a job consistently in Hollywood, at least, is Meryl Streep. If a script involves a divorcee in her 50s, she’s the only one the agents and producers seem to call! These Hollywood standards can be internalized in terms of the beauty standards that people set for themselves. How many wrinkle creams can you find for men with your wireless Internet connection?
Hair and shaving is another example of the different standards that men and women experience. While some circles frown on men with facial hair, it’s generally considered acceptable for men to grow some of it. A 5 o’clock shade is “sexy.” Look up men’s clothing ads with your wireless Internet connection and you’ll likely see a light coating of stubble on the models’ perfectly square jaws. A woman who goes a few days without shaving her armpits or legs, or, God forbid, who refuses to shave altogether, is immediately assumed to be dirty or not interested in men.
As an extension of the beauty double standard, women tend to use more makeup and personal care products than men.
Leave a Reply