Written by Colleen Curry on April 3rd, 2012:
Going through life as a "tall, slim, blonde" woman is harder than it looks, according to British columnist Samantha Brick, who has become the focus of criticism and ridicule for writing that her life as a beautiful woman has been especially difficult.
Brick, 41, published a column in the Daily Mail on Tuesday entitled, "'There are downsides to looking this pretty': Why women hate me for being beautiful."
Brick bemoaned having to go through life as a beautiful woman, constantly receiving free champagne and wine from suitors, flirting with male bosses, and angering female friends and co-workers with her looks.
"While I'm no Elle Macpherson," Brick wrote, "I'm tall, slim, blonde and, so I'm often told, a good-looking woman. I know how lucky I am. But there are downsides to being pretty, the main one being that other women hate me for no other reason than my lovely looks."
Written by me, April 2012:
I wondered if I could reverse the polarity on what I think of as an April (the whole month) fools joke.
"'There are downsides to looking this handsome': Why men hate me for being handsome."
Mr. Herman Hunk bemoaned having to go through life as a handsome man, constantly receiving free beer and pizza from suitors, flirting with female bosses, and angering male friends and co-workers with his looks.
"While I'm no George Clooney," Herman Hunk wrote, "I'm tall, built, blonde and, so I'm often told, a good-looking man. I know how lucky I am. But there are downsides to being handsome, the main one being that other men hate me for no other reason than my stunning looks."
He went on to say husbands hide their wives or grit their teeth when he tries to seduce them.
This has got to be a tough life.
On a slightly different subject, but one not meriting a full blog. I believe a criteria often missed in romance casting calls is a predeliction by some men to choose a body type that is either equal or one step down for them. By step down, I mean ecto/meso/mesomorph, i.e. thin-boned, medium-boned, heavy-boned. I bring this up because it can be used as a writing tool. For instance, a ballerina could be paired with a swimmer instead of the center of a football team (although the thought of it is humorous), etc.
I don’t know if this is the same for the ladies. How hunky is hunky or chunky or bearish. Anybody want to chime in on this or the scourge of being too pretty or handsome.
Richard, you and MS Brick bring up some interesting points. While we might all wish we had her problem, there are more downsides than she mentions here. It takes a big chunk out of a woman's day just to maintain her looks. A beautiful woman can't grab her purse and run to the store for more milk without first giving her hair more than a lick and a promise.
ReplyDeleteOn the handsome man's side, does he ever have good-looking friends? Or must all his friends be equally good looking? What if he likes a nerd. Dare he be seen with him?
Thought-provoking blog. I've read some novels on this subject, about women, expecially the ugly duckling who has an accident, has her injuries repaired, and it changes her life, sometimes for the worse.
Toni
Thanks Toni for digging deeper. I notice a lady's efforts most often in the super market! Stunning creatures!
DeleteI'm so happy to have my RWA San Diego friends.
Bob