Jezebel is a great site with, apparently, goals that overlap with mine concerning the physical attractiveness dimension of a person's appearance. One example is your post under American Titocracy -- Should You Get Plastic Surgery To Stay Competitive At The Workplace? Gordon Patzer Ph.D. Thinks So! That post specifically regards a U.S. News & World Report article with interview excerpts that reference my long-term commitment to the topic of "lookism."
Like Jezebel and American Titocracy, we strive to attack the discomforting and unacceptable discriminations carried-out by society and individuals, with consequences that accord benefits to the good-looking people and force detriments upon the not so good-looking people. Your "want creation" criticism is right on target. One ramification concerning looks is that people increasingly spend unaffordable time and money in pursuits of unattainable higher levels of physical attractiveness, and do so with unrealistic hopes.
Although we still live in a world of double standards, lookism (i.e., physical attractiveness phenomenon) impacts males and females of all ages, across the United States and around the world, in major cities and small villages. The comments posted in reply to your above post exhibit convincingly the existence and power wielded by physical attractiveness, high and low. These posted comments express clearly that many people feel, as I feel, that "beauty is ugly" or, at least, "Beauty Can Be Ugly". Society and individuals who compose society place entirely too much importance (and value) on a person's physical attractiveness. This importance/value leads to consequences that give benefits to those individuals stereotypically defined or viewed by society as good-looking people, and force detriments upon their counterparts who society defines, or views, as not so good-looking people. In turn, one ramification concerning looks is that people increasingly spend unaffordable time and money in pursuits of unattainable higher levels of physical attractiveness (again, as defined/viewed by society and individuals within that society), and do so with unrealistic hopes.
Accordingly, lack of knowledge and awareness does not resolve problems. Awareness about differences experienced by people with differences precedes corrective actions. For too long, people not affected negatively by discrimination-aligned with differences based on race, sex, physical attractiveness, and so forth-believed life to be a reasonably level playing field. At best, their insensitivity was inadvertent.
Intentional or not, ignorance, denial, and turning a blind eye did not vanish discrimination due to racism and sexism, and will not vanish discrimination due to lookism. And, specific to those individuals who possess higher PA, I urge you to keep in mind a pertinent thought from novelist Teena Booth: "If there is one thing worse than being an ugly duckling in a house of swans, it's having the swans pretend there's no difference."
Whatever our indignities and resolve, we can not avoid lookism as it exists currently. To avoid it or deny it, let alone to practice it, only promulgates it. In life as we know it today, we interact all the time with people who do-consciously or unconsciously-make judgments about us based on what we look like. Nevertheless, each of us can realistically challenge realities of lookism and rise above it.
Keep in mind, "if you can't do everything (to improve the world), then don't do nothing." Sure, society reflects the forceful perspective of collective individuals, but individuals can wield much discretion. Individuals can challenge lookism and can lessen the impact of physical attractiveness phenomenon. It begins with knowing yourself. It includes awareness of your judgments about others and sensitivity of your corresponding interactions. Another dimension includes legal cases, electing appropriate politicians, and respective government policies and legislation.
Best wishes to you and everyone associated with Jezebel, I love reading its content and perspectives.
Best wishes, Gordon
Gordon
_________________________________________________________
Dr. Gordon Patzer
author of, "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined"
[www.GordonPatzer.com]
Of course, maybe, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder it doesn't matter because the outcome is the same, in that the reality is that most beholders agree. Look at the persons who rise to stardom as displayed on the magazine covers at newsstands or broadcast in the television entertainment shows, we have certainly evolved to rather agreed upon standards and definitions of what looks determine good looks and not so good looks.
Dr. Gordon Patzer
author of "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined"
[www.GordonPatzer.com]
At the same time, even though this story jumps 25 years from 1983 to 2008, the basic message concerning good looks and not so good looks these past 25 years has remained rather consistent. As the unfortunate reality continues to be communicated, or reflected, by mass media, smaller sizes, particularly for women and girls of all ages, are more attractive and thus more valued than larger sizes. In turn, people will pursue that more valued look, be it young girls or their parents, regardless of the cost that can be measured in terms of money, self-esteem, and health.
Dr. Gordon Patzer
author of "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined"
[www.GordonPatzer.com]
Strutz is a princess of sorts and be it a modern day princess, a long ago princess, a human princess or something other animated princess, all media and history tells us that their looks are high on the scales of good looks.
We love a princess with exceptional looks. It continues the tradition of disproportionate portions possessed by Barbie the doll to Cinderella the wicked relatives to Snow White with her 7 dwarfs to practically every female superhero portrayed in our electronic mediums.
Dr. Gordon Patzer
author of "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined"
[www.GordonPatzer.com]
My compliments to you for a great post highlighting the same narrow range of looks for female superheroes that then serve to shape the perspectives, ideas, and ideals, of their fans.
Of course, another female superhero who exerts equal or even great impact lives in another genre of female superheroes with similar disproportionate portions is Barbie the doll. But before her time and the time of the female superheroes who you cite, are the powerful chracters of the seemingly well-meaning and seemingly harmless fairy tales and stories that generations of children hear as very young children.
Such stories as Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel and Snow White are filled with messages about beauty and evil, whereby the most beautiful physical structures embody good and meritorious. Accordingly, parents and policy makers (including candidates seeking elected political office) need to be aware and proactive concerning the female superheroes portrayed in all types of reading material and broadcasts on screens ranging in size from big to small.
Dr. Gordon Patzer
author of "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined"
[www.GordonPatzer.com]
Those researchers mentioned in this Newsflash post likely set out to collect scientific data to prove or disprove conventional wisdom that hotties do not hang with notties, despite Paris Hilton's latest movie to the contrary. Within the world of such research, people talk about "aspiration theory" and "matching hypothesis."
Conscious or not conscious about our motivations, aspiration theory predicts that we strive for friends and mates of better good looks. In contrast, matching hypothesis predicts a reality that temper our aspirations with the results being that notties seek out other notties as friends and mates.
Gordon Patzer
author of "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined"
[www.GordonPatzer.com]