I wasn't originally planning to keep this blog beyond a year, but Dulwichmum's blog has inspired me to return. Dulwichmum writes a beauty blog, largely because her career as a scientist doesn't allow her such frivolous conversations. Why is it frivolous to be interested in your appearance?
We've managed to trivialise this (fairly universal) concern - and it's an understandable one for any visual species - while at the same time putting a huge amount of baggage and pressure on women's appearance, inextricably linking it to self-confidence. Think about it: we use insult like 'bimbo' and 'Barbie' for women we assume to be shallow because they've clearly put the time in, but equally use 'frump' and 'boring' for women who've 'let themselves go' (we presume) because their appearance doesn't flag up how much time and effort it took.
Meredith Brooks had a point: we are all more complicated than such easy labels.
So yes, I'm a biker who happens to like stiletto heels (not for riding, but still), I practise kung fu and also wear make-up - hell, I even highlight my hair. And while I am pretty blonde, I do still want to be taken seriously. It's not my fault my DNA specified fair colouring. Like Dulwichmum, I don't understand why any of that is considered so contradictory.
