Women Dressing for Themselves

[xxbabeechick]

Originally Posted by JetJockey

So to spend that time being frivolous is seen as a negative. Spending money on nice clothing and makeup is seen as a bad investment.

Beauty is fine, but if you spend too much time on it when there are 'better' things to do, you will be looked down on.

Which is why I'm so hesitant to leave NYC.

[Rhenzanite]

Originally Posted by xxbabeechick

Which is why I'm so hesitant to leave NYC.

I think that's one of the reasons I'm excited about moving to Boston. I'll be able to dress up and wear makeup/do my hair etc. and not be looked down upon.

[Saroyan]

Originally Posted by Jay F

If there is pressure to dress down I would say that's one of the single worst things about U.S culture. It's all part of what I consider the war on beauty. There are forces that want women to look as plain as can be. I'm not sure if this is coming from the feminist left or if Muslim values are creeping into our culture. Those who make the rude comments have an agenda. They truly hate female beauty and are threatened by it.

"The feminist left" and "Muslims" are your most likely culprits? Really?

Then explain northern Europe, which is far more feminist, far more Muslim, and infinitely better dressed than the United States.

In better-dressed places, it is not customary to wear sneakers unless you are in fact exercising. It is not customary to wear sweats, mesh shorts, or shapeless and oversized t-shirts... well, pretty much ever. When done, it is considered extremely American, in the same vein as McDonald's and low-mileage trucks.

None of that, though, is out of any special concern for female beauty. Not wearing athletic apparel unless you're exercising isn't a gendered rule. It's only in the U.S. that sloppy dressing signals masculinity, and not a gender-neutral lack of taste.

Au contraire, if I may be so bold, a culture that devalues the aesthetic as frilly, indulgent, and female (or gay) is far more likely to extinguish it than any Muslim-feminist conspiracy.

[Jay F]

Originally Posted by Saroyan

"The feminist left" and "Muslims" are your most likely culprits? Really?

Then explain northern Europe, which is far more feminist, far more Muslim, and infinitely better dressed than the United States.

In better-dressed places, it is not customary to wear sneakers unless you are in fact exercising. It is not customary to wear sweats, mesh shorts, or shapeless and oversized t-shirts... well, pretty much ever. When done, it is considered extremely American, in the same vein as McDonald's and low-mileage trucks.

None of that, though, is out of any special concern for female beauty. Not wearing athletic apparel unless you're exercising isn't a gendered rule. It's only in the U.S. that sloppy dressing signals masculinity, and not a gender-neutral lack of taste.

Au contraire, if I may be so bold, a culture that devalues the aesthetic as frilly, indulgent, and female (or gay) is far more likely to extinguish it than any Muslim-feminist conspiracy.

The Muslim immigration to Northern Europe is relatively recent, long after dressing standards were established. There have been articles about how young Muslim males in countries such as Sweden and Norway call women "whores" for dressing the way they do and even justifying rape because of it.