The Demonization of Beauty

I've been reading several stories today from various news organizations that deal with physical beauty, especially beautiful women. Of course this interests me because I am a man, but the scope of the articles is more to the direction of why many feminists are so opposed to things like beauty pageants and the like. Their argument is largely that these types of events are objectifying women, sexist, (and even more alarming, heterosexist), discriminatory and putting unrealistic expectations on average women.

Well, I don't think that their arguments hold up very well if you really inspect them closely. First and foremost, not one participant in these events is doing so against their will. Far from it, they are willing participants. And how exactly are these events discriminatory? Because they only allow females to enter them? So what? Many feminist functions are limited to women only. Even if there are men who support their cause, at many events, men are not allowed. And you know what? That is perfectly okay. Would these same feminists be so outraged at a planned lesbian event where men are not allowed? Of course not. But that would be discriminatory, would it not? Furthermore, as opposed to being heterosexist, it would be homosexist, but that would be okay for the PC feminists.

As for beauty pageants objectifying women, I would really like to know what is so wrong with celebrating beauty? Should we ban Nobel Prizes because they objectify thought and humanity causes? Should we ban Pulitzer Prizes because they objectify skill at writing and journalism? Should we outlaw the Fields Medal for objectifying mathematics? And I guess the Scripps-Howard Spelling Bees should be wiped off the face of the earth, since they objectify those with a command of language. Of course not. And these are traits that by and large, the contestants are blessed with from birth. People have natural talents in many areas. To celebrate one while demonizing another would be the very definition of discrimination.

And then their final argument is that it puts unrealistic expectations of beauty on average women. Complete crap. First, everyone has a vastly different definition of what they see as beautiful. Want a perfect example of this? Go visit the Am I Hot web site and rate a few dozen people who have posted their photos. Then compare what you rate them with what their overall score is. See how many are rated much higher or lower than what you rated them. Furthermore, just because some pageant or magazine puts something out there as being beautiful does not mean you have to conform. Part of having free will is the ability to decide for yourself whether you want to buy a closet full of Gucci or starve yourself or just scrub your face and wear some no-name jeans and be happy with who you are. If someone is too weak or has such low self esteem that they try to be someone else, well, they are probably already a lot more harmed than some beauty pageant will ever harm them.

Celebrate beauty in all it's forms. Besides, Hooters girls need something to do in their spare time.

~Peace