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From: turpin@cs.utexas.EDU (Russell Turpin)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Female human aesthetics
Summary: To which men do you want to appeal?
Message-ID: <14515@cs.utexas.edu>
Date: 10 Nov 90 22:48:59 GMT
References: <9011012313.AA11775@rpp386.Cactus.ORG> <8654@darkstar.ucsc.edu>
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
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In article <8654@darkstar.ucsc.edu>, carioca@ucscb.ucsc.edu (fOoDFoOdfOoDiTYfooD!) writes:
> ... Women are expected to be beautiful so that they can win the
> attention of men.  We are taught that being as beautiful as
> possible is the only chance we have to get a boyfriend husband.
> Pick up a copy of _Mademoiselle_ or _Vogue_ next time you're
> at the supermarket or 7-11, and read the text that goes along with
> your average fashion spread.  There are *constant* references to
> how attractive you'll be *to men* if you wear this dress or that
> brand of lipstick. ...

The question is: to *which* men does one want to appeal?  Some of
us are turned off by the look and behavior promoted in these
magazines.  Of course, we likely the men who are considered "less
than eligible".

The word "eligible" (or whatever current phrase is used in the
same way) is frequently used in these magazines to qualify men,
and is laden with connotations.  What makes a man "more" or
"less" eligible?  Why are these the men that (these magazines
imply) a woman wants to sexually attract?  What is wrong with the
men who are not "eligible"?

Yes, there is a social game being played.  If looked at only one
way, it might appear that men are controlling women, by dictating
what is attractive.  Looked at another, it might appear that
women are controlling men, by determing who is "eligible" for a
relationship.  In fact, such games have a social momentum that is
not fully under the control of any of the participants.  Before
complaining about the different status of some other group in the
game, perhaps one should question whether the game should be played
at all.  What does it mean to step outside the game?

Russell