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ismnotwasm

(42,513 posts)
5. Many feminist's I've read
Tue Feb 18, 2014, 06:39 AM
Feb 2014

Warn against rejecting actual beauty, while maintaining that false beauty standards and perceptions are harmful. The fact of the beauty of those women bothers me far less then their objectification.

What bothers me even more, is the fact that they are all white, without the variation the is so essentially in beauty and aesthetics. They are presented in a way that reduced them to 3 butts. I've seen SI covers, where although the woman is always objectified-- that's the point of it-- the photographers captured the whole beauty of the model. As long as we keep the standard for beauty young white girls, and specific body parts, we'll have a hard time evolving out of objectification and into appreciation of the aesthetics of the human form.

The most beautiful woman I've ever known was a friend of mine from years back. She was of mixed blood and had this perfect face. It truly was compelling in it's beauty and she has gorgeous long very curly hair (she was a mix of a Black, white and a bit of Filipino) She had a wonderful personality, and though we've lost touch over the years what I remember is the laughter-- god we cracked up over anything. Did crazy things, like party with a circus one time-- (now there lies a tale) or just played Dominos for hours.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder yes, but there is a reason someone like Marilyn Monroe captures our attention after all these years. Like my friend, her beauty is compelling, fascinating and men and women are drawn to it.

We must expand our standards, I believe into appreciation that is not racist objectification. People are always going to be sexually attracted to one another, and have beauty preferences, but we don't have to be so ugly in how we go about it. And how we go about it is ugly indeed.

As far as maintaining body health-- that's easier than people realize; again false, harmful perceptions of beauty intimidate, and make reasonable goals seem impossible or not desirable ("that last ten pounds" syndrome I call it)

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