This was such a powerful one... I'm swinging between heartbreak and outrage on her behalf! I remember when I cut all my long curly hair off for charity and my mum got really upset and said "but your hair is your crowning glory!"... I stabbed her with my eyes and said, in a mock-hurt voice "but Mum... I always thought my crowning glory was my brain!?" That was the end of that. Sorry mum, but have you met me?
I mean sure, but there are many other ways to not "recognize the face staring back at you in the mirror" besides turning 40 lol — illness, accidents, etc. People below 45 experience these things every day! There are plenty of potential moments of reckoning w beauty culture throughout life. Plus... I work in the beauty industry, I was a ghostwriter for the Kardashians — everyone around me has been talking about procedures since I was like 21 lol.
I feel like I almost went through this during puberty, feeling like a stranger in my body and face. I never really got over that one so I kind of suspect that aging into a less sexualised version of this body will be MORE comfortable for me personally.
This is why my work is not about my personal feelings but research, data, and the history of beauty culture. No one needs to be 45 or 77 or any particular age understand the workings of beauty culture as a system of oppression.
I would LOSE MY MIND if either of my parents did this zomg. I hope the letter writer is able to set boundaries with him...
This was such a powerful one... I'm swinging between heartbreak and outrage on her behalf! I remember when I cut all my long curly hair off for charity and my mum got really upset and said "but your hair is your crowning glory!"... I stabbed her with my eyes and said, in a mock-hurt voice "but Mum... I always thought my crowning glory was my brain!?" That was the end of that. Sorry mum, but have you met me?
This is already so sad. I've only read the first paragraph and I had to take a pause.
Brilliant: Instead of Pretty Pretty Princess, they have brawny, billionaire broligarchs modeling money, power and makeovers.
I mean sure, but there are many other ways to not "recognize the face staring back at you in the mirror" besides turning 40 lol — illness, accidents, etc. People below 45 experience these things every day! There are plenty of potential moments of reckoning w beauty culture throughout life. Plus... I work in the beauty industry, I was a ghostwriter for the Kardashians — everyone around me has been talking about procedures since I was like 21 lol.
I feel like I almost went through this during puberty, feeling like a stranger in my body and face. I never really got over that one so I kind of suspect that aging into a less sexualised version of this body will be MORE comfortable for me personally.
This is why my work is not about my personal feelings but research, data, and the history of beauty culture. No one needs to be 45 or 77 or any particular age understand the workings of beauty culture as a system of oppression.