Barely Scratching the Surface Part 2

In an issue of Psychology Today from 2001 there's an article titled Why I Hate Beauty.

The article written by Michael Levine and Hara Estroff Marano suggests that we are always unconsciously comparing ourselves, and others, to the air brushed, digitally enhanced bodies we view daily. These comparisons can have negative effects on the way we view ourselves and the relationships we have the flesh and bone people around us.

These images make it seem as if our electronic global village is filled with an overabundance of attractive singles ready for the taking. And we shouldn't settle for anything less than perfection when it comes to choosing a partner, or at least that's what our brains are secretly programmed to think. Levine and Marano cite a number of studies where people unconsciously choose fiction's perfection over reality.

Overall, men tended to negatively view the attractiveness of real women after seeing pictures of models. However, women not only felt worse about their own appearance after viewing models, but also more negatively viewed their desirability as a marriage partner.

The article doesn't go indepth on whether women's satisfaction with their partners (or potential partners) is as adversely effected by these unconscious comparisons. However, I would guess it's not. There's more diversity in what is considered acceptably "attractive" for men. For example, men can get away with being bald and weathered. Plus, there's the idea that heterosexual women are suppose to be more interested in providers than hunks.

It's telling though that women would feel these fake images dictated their worth not only as sexual partner, but as a life partner. That these two separate spheres should be so entwined. Maybe that's why plastic surgery is now a 16 billion dollar a year industry. Of course to believe 100% in the power of the comparison theory disregards our own personal will and rationality, and that we have no choice but buy into the system. To say that we, men especially, are slaves to our caveman brains and can't separate reality from MTV fiction negates our personal tastes, desires, and admirable qualities of the real people around us. Even if we are unconsciously making these comparisons, it doesn't excuse us from trying to recognize less conventional beauty, even if we work at a PR agency in L.A.