The following observations come from Nancy Etcoff's Survival of the Prettiest, another book being read for class. Indirectly (but at times directly), Etcoff counters the feminist claims against beauty made by Naomi Wolf and others. If Wolf suggests that beauty is a cultural myth that enshrines male power (especially male capitalist power) and disenfranchises women, Etcoff counters that the human desire for beauty is in fact instinctual, and an important component in the maintenance of the species. The beauty argument, in other words, turns on the familiar dichotomy of nature vs. culture - is beauty a natural phenomenon or a cultural construct? - and while I find merit in points that both authors make, Etcoff is the better writer, and her book contains more nuggets like the following, an evolutionary psychology account of personal ads, both gay and straight:
People composing personal ads are trying, consciously or unconsciously, to appeal to the mating preferences of the hoped-for partner. Ads placed by "women seeking men" are the most likely to mention their beauty; next most likely are "men seeking men"; and least likely are "women seeking women." Basically anyone seeking a man, be it a gay man or a straight woman, advertises his or her good looks. Anyone seeking a woman is more likely to mention sincerity, friendship, and financial security. As one dating service director said, "Men just look at the pictures, women actually read the things."Donald Symons suggests that male-male and female-female unions tell us a lot about the evolved psychologies of men and women. They represent male and female sexuality in undiluted form, without the compromises and adjustments that heterosexual partners make to satisfy the other sex. The evidence from same-sex partners suggests that male interest in a beautiful partner is not just men's way of objectifying and denigrating women. Men interested in men are just as interested in the beauty and youth of their male partners. Women, whether straight or gay, desire beauty but they are less likely to see it as important in a partner. (Etcoff 62)
Whatever their differences, Etcoff and Wolf both describe the neuroses and feelings of inadequacy that the pursuit of beauty creates. So whether you're inclined to think that beauty is a capitalist conspiracy or a scientific certainty, it remains a powerful force, and not a very democratic one.
Posted by gminter at April 6, 2004 10:18 AM