They were not for me, and they weren't for quite a few other people, since many women protested them in decades past.
I get that they weren't fun for you. I'm not arguing that you or anyone else should like them. What I am challenging is your apparent suggestion of what they are and do.
That other women share your feeling is of no importance. Neither is the fact that women have protested. Xians protest tv programs and even science as being antiXian, that does not make it so.
In stark contrast to your experience, many women have enjoyed both participating in and viewing beauty contests. This is across cultures and time.
If people are having fun, and you don't have to watch or participate if you don't, then what's the problem? You may not like that the people who do are in the majority and in some fashion have their opinions effected by such things, but that doesn't argue against their legitimacy.
My reality was that no comparable contests existed for men. I never saw them on TV, I never heard any males talking about them, I never had any inkling that any male that I knew was ever interested in them at all, or even knew they existed.
I believe I have already granted you that males contests are not as popular as female contests. That does not mean they do not exist, that does not mean the "ideals" as you put it do not exist for men or not enforced through other venues, nor anything about the inherent natures of contests involving women or men.
Clearly if you wanted to see contests involving men, you could have. And by the way some guys do talk about contests, and even where they don't talk about Mr Universe in specific generally do discuss looking good in relation to other competitions. Physical shape is certainly an obsession with guys or you wouldn't find steroid use among them.
My guess on why women's contests are more popular is that we are coming out of a time where men would generally feel less comfortable attending such events (homophobia), while women would not feel the same stigma, that women's sexuality was repressed and it was not thought proper (or even desirable by women) to view such events (but hypocritically boys would). Oh yes this is not to mention that men appear to be more visually inclined.
As it is we have already seen shifts in strip shows and sexually graphic material with the loosening of social mores regarding women's sexuality. Those recently male dominated venues are becoming women focused.
Even mainstream "women's" shows like Oprah have pure beefcake segments. I mean its always interesting to see things like segments on firemen from Alaska or something, and they all look so good. Not one fireman from Alaska is a bit tubby or has a big nose, or balding. Wow.
One might also point to the women's novels sections of bookstores. That's been going on forever and it ain't guys in potbellies pushing those books. In fact so called women's movies are usually about love affairs of some kind, and the guys generally look good don't they? Hmmmmm.
As usual, you are trying to oversimplify a complex social issue.
That people are attracted to other humans based on physical esthetics is a simple fact. That people derive pleasure from doing so is simple. That they might construct contests based on that as they do many other facets is also simple.
However, social issues around beauty or contests regarding beauty, may not be simple. I'm willing to look at this in as complex a way as you want. I'm just not going to accept very simple subjective statements (me and my friends don't like them, or I don't see anything similar for men) as evidence for more complex social realities (specifically techniques of oppression).
I'm more than likely going to be gone for the next 3-4 days, and so not able to respond anyway. Why not think about the issue and construct a solid argument for your position, which not only explains why you don't like it, but why others do like it, and why beauty is handled in different ways for men and women?
And I ask you this. Comb through your posts before posting and remove commentary about what I think, or am trying to do, or am doing. Focus on the evidence or arguments I am presenting.
This is usually where our arguments derail, and I am trying to keep things on the tracks.
holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)
™ Version 4.2
