Ashley Judd on looksim

I have newfound respect for Ashely Judd. Ladies, we are so much more than how we look — but how can we, let alone the men in our lives, ever come to believe it when we’re constantly picking apart how other women look, too?

Ashely Judd writesthat she tries very hard to not let her own self worth be affected by others’ positive OR negative opinions of her. Which is wise, but extraordinarily difficult. Still, she decided to address this “puffy face” issue. By attacking her appearance, we attack each other’s appearance and uphold the idea that its only our appearance that counts. Who does this?

“Our culture, that’s who. The insanity has to stop, because as focused on me as it appears to have been, it is about all girls and women. In fact, it’s about boys and men, too, who are equally objectified and ridiculed, according to heteronormative definitions of masculinity that deny the full and dynamic range of their personhood. It affects each and every one of us, in multiple and nefarious ways: our self-image, how we show up in our relationships and at work, our sense of our worth, value, and potential as human beings. Join in—and help change—the Conversation.”

I’ve got to ask: who benefits from this? Some would say that men do, because it gives them more power. I don’t think so. Who REALLY benefits from reducing half of our species to the role of mere ornamentation and the occasional procreation? For the record, I think procreation is a BIG DEAL and a vitally important, but it seems that even feminists look down on motherhood as being the most worthless role. That needs to stop, too.

But as for lookism: who benefits from this? Not you. Not me. Not my kids. Certainly not my ex. Perhaps it’s the people who sell me makeup and clothing and hair gel and facial cream and shoes and jewelry and everything else they say I need to be good enough? Not to mention the mantles and wimples and crisping pins? I’m not buying it anymore. And I hope you won’t, either. I don’t mind makeup, but we are more than that. We have to start believing it.

PS: I couldn’t help but notice the “Related Stories” section on The Beast. Sigh.