One aspect of being a lesbian at a women's college.

[tenlittlebullets]

We are beautiful because we have better things to do than be beautiful. There are no men to impress, no men to judge us, no perfectly made-up peers against which to judge ourselves. So we put our focus on living our lives instead of being decorative, and we "let ourselves go," and our beauty flourishes with neglect. We're beautiful as young women, not as exotic, unreal, "perfect" creatures from Planet Abercrombie: looking around, I see girls with the loveliest hair, unblowdried and unstyled just like mine, and girls whose skin looks like my flesh, not like the matte finish of three layers of makeup. We are beautiful because we let our bodies speak for themselves.

How can anyone profess to be attracted to women when the only women they approve of look like plastic dolls instead of people?

Comments

[nowgoesquickly.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥

[just-marzipan.livejournal.com]

You know, I find that fascinating. Because I am very much a lesbian but I spend a lot of time on my appearance. I love fashion, I don't like leaving the house without makeup. I like spending time on making myself beautiful, but for my own gratification, not anyone else's.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

I pay attention to my appearance too--it kind of comes with the gothy territory. But I think it really shines through when you're doing it for yourself, not to please someone else. There are girls who dress up here, plenty of them, but most of them do it for self-expression and not to please some nonexistent male gaze. And I think that in turn influences the ways they dress up.

...also, I just really hate the over-tanned, bleach blonde, half a pound of foundation and eyeliner, all boobs and no body fat look. It's ugly as sin, not to mention pernicious when it's presented as some sort of ultimate beauty standard.

[akedhi.livejournal.com]

This is why random people off the internet friend you, because we get to read awesome things like this.

[smartamy15.livejournal.com]

We only know each other through the Les Mis comm., so I feel I agree with akedhi had to say, but this entry was purely awesome. Although I must say it can also apply to straight women too, who just think Ambercrombie is the sexist trap of death and make-up is an unnecessary concept invented by men who need a "perfect" woman in order to exert their own male dominance on other males.

We are beautiful because we let our bodies speak for themselves. These are what I consider "real" women. Not that others are fake or insecure, but people who are comfortable with themselves just as who they are and don't want to/feel the need to wear make-up are people whom I admire and am proud to be myself.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

Oh, it can definitely apply to straight women too. It was more a comment on an all-female environment, just from the point of view of someone with, erm, a very fine appreciation for female beauty. ;)

I don't object to a bit of judiciously applied makeup (and have been known to wear a little myself), but oh god if your entire face looks like it was painted on that is not hot.

But really, the entire idea of judging women's worth by their attractiveness is gross. And I think that's what gets taken away at a women's college and allows us to just be, you know, people. With lives and aspirations and way too much goddamn homework to spend an hour straightening our hair.

[coryrain.livejournal.com]

I don't comment often, but I love this entry and agree wholeheartedly with you.

[dividingday.livejournal.com]

Very true and very well-put.

[josiana.livejournal.com]

&hearts