How much do looks define your self-image?

[lph]

I really appreciate everybody's replies. Thanks for the input. I'm certainly not trying to belittle anybody's wish to feel attractive, I think we all do, just doodling around with the idea of what goes into being attractive. Some random thoughts:

are men more relaxed about their looks, or is this just not manly to admit you care? you can tell a male friend (not all, I guess, but some, in the right situation) that they could use a haircut, or should lose some weight - saying the same thing to a woman is mostly considered a huge faux pas. Not to mention a mistaken pregnancy

would you be offended by someone saying that at 50 you're not as cute, or trusting as when you were 20?

Did you ever switch over from wanting to be thought of as older, to wishing you were younger?

- late, gotta go sleep

[Mr. Bloom]

Did you ever switch over from wanting to be thought of as older, to wishing you were younger?

In the 80's/90's, I was at one point the youngest Senior VP and then the youngest Executive VP in a company with 5,000 employees. BUT, the clerical folks remembered me when I was a trainee...and still thought of me as that young kid.

Now, my hair is greying and it's sliding from from the top of my head to the back of my shoulders...

Yes, I'm making the transition kicking and screaming because what is see is not how I feel. SO, I guess I need to focus on making how I feel come out in other ways

However, I have to admit...I was never "cool" or "hot" when I was 20 and was rarely comfortable in my skin. But I had a confidence that pushed me past that and that's what got me multiple job offers when I graduated.

Without question, just basic things that define female vs. male bodies, do form our self-image ..for the rest of our lives. It determines how people treat us, female vs. male.

• as infants, the genders look essentially the same (except for one key anatomical difference)
• as we mature, we start looking very different
• as we age, we essentially start looking alike again (except for one key anatomical difference)
• so let's age gracefully

[shootingstar]

[*]as we age, we essentially start looking alike again (except for one key anatomical difference)[*]so let's age gracefully[/LIST]

You better be careful how you tell Silver on the lst point above.

[Grog]

I had written a long message about my teenage years but I've decided to chop it in favour of this more interesting anecdote:

I worked on tv for a bit, in a minor variety show. Before every show the make up artist would cake us up (men and women, although women would get icing on top of the cake). Kinda fun (I never wear any on my own). One of the make up artist that worked with the show then told me of her work with a particular female news anchor whom, she said, was obsessed with her looks to a pathological point. She controlled her image to the extreme. But can you imagine being on display like that all the time? The pressure on those women is enormous, and they're often relegated to minor positions as soon as they start to age.

In a similar vein: the French channel of Canada's national television had this woman who happens to be a trained meteorologist and a very good teacher about weather issues as the "weather woman." She was hired in 1980 and worked on the most important news show of the day until, in 1995, she was mysteriously relegated to minor shows. Yes, she has aged, and, yes, she is about 50% heavier than the chicks who present the weather on the other channels. Well I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I think she filed a formal complaint, and she won her position back. I was really grateful that she fought for this. She is, by far, the most competent for the job, and proved that looks did not always rule.

Bottom line: If you have a female news anchor that you like, send notes to the station where she works on a regular basis to say how much you appreciate her work.

[teigyr]

This makes me laugh. I am from Southern Calif and when I turned 18, my friend and I went to Calgary. This was in the 80's and you wouldn't believe how shunned we were because we weren't blonde and tanned!!! I am red-haired and freckled and I guess I didn't fit the stereotype.

Way back then, I turned into this punk purple-haired pseudo-mohawk (curly hair doesn't do mohawks so well unless you do extreme measures) kind of person. I didn't/don't like "competing" with what I should be so I went the other way. I still don't care, so much, but there are times I wish I fit into the cute category.

When I moved to Seattle and was recently divorced, I had to get braces. I remember being at a company function with new braces and not being able to eat (food in my braces!) or speak without spitting on someone. Seattle isn't so good for dating either, I agree with Biciclista's story. When I first met and went out with DH, I ended up spitting water on him when we went out to dinner because I had never eaten in public with braces. He was good with it. I was over 40 at the time too, which is what made the braces all the more insulting.

So I guess looks DO matter but I pretend like they don't. I'm getting older and my body doesn't behave like it used to. I do different stuff with my hair but then again I've always done that. I like makeup because it is fun but I have to admit that now I'm getting anti-aging moisturizers too. It isn't so much looks I mind anymore, it's the Aging Process. It's rude. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't fit into the "cute" category. Individuality has its rewards and the right person appreciates you for who you are instead of what you look like.

[Zen]

Did you ever switch over from wanting to be thought of as older, to wishing you were younger?

Only if that means just changing out bodies.
This girl is obviously an empty headed vessel but much thinner, no spider veins, flat belly and perky breasts.
But not very entertaining at lunch.

This woman, on the other hand, is a hoot and knows stuff.

And she has more money
Who cares that the boobs are a 36 long?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

OMG Zen....yer killin' me here!!

[Crankin]

I didn't reply to this thread earlier, because I wanted to think about it. And yes, I do care about how I look. Am I vain? Maybe. Am I hot? I don't think so and I don't care, as long as I am hot to my husband . I really don't like the idea of looking "old." I guess I am lucky that everyone, on both sides of my family age well. I like wearing make up and I like looking nice in clothes, although more of my $ has been spent on sports oriented stuff lately... I do my nails and toenails, but I do this myself.
Part of looking good for me is tied up in being fit and healthy. It's really important to me. I see so many people my age resigned to obesity and ill health as a natural consequence of aging, including most of my friends. Fitness takes work and I find that most of the people I know don't want to do that kind of work.
I do a lot to keep my hair looking good, because it is awful. For years I permed it, and then I cut it all off. Now I want nice, straight chin length hair. I'm almost there, but it takes straightening, highlights, and learning how to use a flat iron to make it look the way I want it to. I'm getting some gray around the temples, so next time, more highlights.
I got Invisalign braces 4 years ago to fix the mistakes that my first set of braces didn't do 40 years ago. I was very self conscious of my teeth. Personally, I don't care that I have small b00bs, but I wish I looked better in certain clothing styles. I would never get implants, but I am friends with certain enhancing bra styles. I remember when my mom went from an A to a C as she aged, and she hated it!
I admit, I come from a culture where women "worked" at looking good. I don't see anything wrong with it. My husband takes the same pride in his appearance and is just as interested in buying clothes, etc. He even has more shoes than me...

[emily_in_nc]

Did you ever switch over from wanting to be thought of as older, to wishing you were younger?

I never wanted to be thought of as older. I was always happy the age I was until after 40. From then on, I wished I were younger again. Not that I am unhappy with who I am now at 47, but until around age 40, I took for granted not having wrinkles, gray hair, age spots, a thick middle, saggy skin. Ah, the innocence of youth!

Unfortunately, I have a mom for whom looks were very important (and she was a knock-out up until about 50, when she started packing on the pounds due to moving out of NYC - becoming sedentary, and getting very wrinkled due to decades of cigarette smoking). I think because of her influence, I find myself placing more importance on physical attractiveness than I would like to. I am ashamed of this in myself. I also have a couple of good girlfriends who have already had facial plastic surgery in their 40s, and that almost makes me feel like it's "wrong" to show any signs of aging. Silly!

Let's face it, looks are a HUGE thing in our society now. Otherwise, there wouldn't be such a market for botox, facial line fillers, lip injections, laser skin rejuvenation, and cosmetic surgery. These treatments are all BOOMING in the US, at least. Fortunately, I think that female cyclists place higher value on fitness and good health, and spending money not on anti-aging treatments at the local "medi-spa" but on bikes and cycling gear. I've found that cycling friends are much more "real" than my non-cycling friends in this way. Cycling = the ultimate anti-aging treatment.

[Zen]

Cycling = the ultimate anti-aging treatment.

Physically and mentally

[Mr. Bloom]

I've found that cycling friends are much more "real"

That's what happens when you swallow bugs at 18mph

[Crankin]

Just playing the devil's advocate, but, when did wearing make up equate with being or not being a feminist? Why do people think that caring about looks is evil?
Anyone who knows me (male or female) would say that I am pretty outspoken about gender role stuff and I don't put up with any c*ap from anyone. Heck, I was even the mom who didn't feel one shred of guilt about working.
And yes, I appreciate being with cyclists more than other types. Where else can you discuss bodily functions, while being totally sweaty, dressed in lycra? And, nobody cares! But, I still like make up!

[Tuckervill]

There's something about the beauty of the anonymity of the Internet.

lol +1!

[Aggie_Ama]

Just playing the devil's advocate, but, when did wearing make up equate with being or not being a feminist? Why do people think that caring about looks is evil?
Anyone who knows me (male or female) would say that I am pretty outspoken about gender role stuff and I don't put up with any c*ap from anyone. Heck, I was even the mom who didn't feel one shred of guilt about working.
And yes, I appreciate being with cyclists more than other types. Where else can you discuss bodily functions, while being totally sweaty, dressed in lycra? And, nobody cares! But, I still like make up!

I like my makeup too! As I said earlier- foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara every day. Sometimes lipstick but mostly I forget it wore off. If I can find my blush brush I will wear it but often not. Until I started reading TE I didn't know makeup was so shunned? The only thing in my makeup that is even noticeable is the eyeliner/mascara but I don't put it on thick. It is probably most noticeable to me because I have blond lashes and I think I look completely different without makeup on.

[roadie gal]

I was the short, fat, scraggly haired kid with braces and glasses... with 2 beautiful sisters. Let me tell you, that screws up your self image forever. I know that I'm no longer that teenager. I have a lot more self confidence and I KNOW I look better now and I'm healthier than I've ever been. BUT deep down, I'm still that lonely kid. I think your early self image stays with you throughout your life. You aren't necessarily bound by it, but it's there.

BTW, I turned 50 last month. I've been looking forward to it. There's something magical about a half century. But it does make you look back and think "What have I done with that half century?" I don't feel old. It's hard to describe the exact feeling.