A Woman’s Inner Beauty Shows
In “No Wonder Women Feel They Must Have Face Lifts” (Commentary, Feb. 22), Joan Jacobs Brumberg and Jacquelyn Jackson make the point that the compulsion to conform to culturally defined standards of beauty begins early in childhood. As a therapist, I have seen girls as young as 5 worrying about being “fat” or “ugly.” Girls of all ages need to be recognized and praised for their inner beauty, for attributes such as their creativity, strength, intellectual curiosity, leadership skills or compassion for the lives of others.
“Turn Beauty Inside Out Day,” a celebration of reclaiming what it really means to be beautiful, will be held on May 15. Girls all over our country will be organizing local community events, conducting letter writing campaigns, holding marches or other media events to raise issue awareness. This event is being sponsored by New Moon, an organization for girls based in Minnesota. For more information call (800) 381-4743, ext. 19.
Cherylynne Berger LCSW
Girls’ Resource Network
Pasadena
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Brumberg and Jackson join the endless parade of peddlers who try to turn a buck by convincing members of a particular faction of their victimization, in this case young females who appear to require elderly, overweight and unattractive ladies as role models. As the son and husband of women who capably think for themselves, this perpetual notion of girls as victims of the fashion and image industries has never resonated with me.
As for the dearth of female elders in high-profile positions, I might point out that Anne Robinson (“Weakest Link”), Madeleine Albright and Susan Sarandon should provide plenty of guidance for those clamoring for leadership.
Paul Weingarten
Orange
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I am a 52-year-old, “white American woman,” well past my time of “youthful beauty.” I’ve never colored or permed my hair, never had plastic surgery or “a needle pushing poison” into my face. I have, sometimes proudly and sometimes heartbreakingly, earned every gray hair, every wrinkle and sag I have. I feel no anxiety or shame at the outward evidence of my aging and have no plans to chemically or surgically attempt to reverse or slow the process.
When all children are brought up to value the mind and heart above physical beauty, when advertisers regularly employ those whose true beauty shows through the deep wrinkles and age spots and thinning hair, then perhaps society as a whole will realize that “youthful beauty” is as meaningless to a woman’s worth as wax on a tortoise’s shell.
Shelley Gendernalik
Winnetka
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Why do women subject themselves to knives and hypodermics filled with poison--and they left out lasers that often inflict damaging burns? Because the rich and bored need Botox parties as their latest fad, to take up their excessive time and money. They are narcissistic, stupid and self-destructive. The individuals are sick, not the society.
Ann Bourman
Los Angeles
