This is one of those things where we probably aren’t really disagreeing on very much. As you are probably aware, I write extensively about the dominance hierarchy aspect of our society. It dovetails nicely with consumer culture because it encourages constant comparison of oneself to those around you, which drives people to buy products and services like plastic surgery to appear better than your neighbors.
The beauty and fashion industries are complicit, and so is Hollywood, but we also don’t have to buy what they are selling us as a society, although overwhelmingly, we still are — all of us. So if men prefer size 4–8s than why are so many actresses and models starving themselves? Sure, that’s what’s being pushed at us, but the voices that are really speaking out against that are overwhelmingly female. That’s my question — what’s the disconnect?
Also, if you click on the story about beauty ideals through time, you’ll see how much they change based on the culture and the period.
