Touché.
In response to today's earlier post about Mandy Moore, an astute TTWS reader named Barbie writes the following:
It is not heartening to know that Mandy is depressed. I find this to be an (albeit possible slim attempt at humor) insult to Mandy and many other women who may fall into a leggy blonde category. Or brunette, or redhead, etc. This is a subtle form of discrimination. Try going blonde for a week and see how it goes.I have had friends like this...people who see the image and not the person. It sucks. So does depression. I dare add, that at times the discrimination based on looks caused my own depression. Discrimination and judgment really took off when the blonde cheerleader gained weight. Oh there are one's reveling in that thought. Barbie de-throned and diagnosed with a mental illness. All of the insecure gals cheer. Thank God, the blonde bimbo feels like I do.
Maybe she already did.
[I used another photo of Mandy here—one where she looks happy and glowy. Sorry for my small-minded vision of her, Barbie.]
Comments
Of course, people wouldn't feel the way Liz did if the opposite was also true, beautiful people didn't get more opportunities, love and appreciation.
Can you blame us discriminated against ugly insecure people for being glad we are not alone?
And can I have Barbie's phone number?
Posted by: Ben | January 23, 2007 05:49 PM
Thanks Liz. The topic brings to light for me as well as all women that we tolerate comments that are based on how we look. Doesn't matter how we look, in my opinion what counts really IS on the inside. But, having been a 20 something in an office setting and being called "Barbie","Our Little Dutch Girl",and a couple of gropes of tits and ass (and not by me)...well it does all tie into depression etc., for who we are in this shallow society is so defined by our physical appearance, that we are often overlooked as human beings. Personally, I have always identified with "Ugly Betty".
P.S.--Ben, you know only Ken can have that.
Posted by: Barbie | January 24, 2007 08:45 PM
By the way, Mandy Moore's been some shade of brunette for quite a while. (As a way to be taken more seriously?) She's a got a new album out singing all her own songs, some of which has she wrote with (the great) Lori McKenna.
And she's been doing really interesting smaller movies as well as the big romantic comedies. She's quite a bit embarassed about the teeny-bopper bubblegum she did when she was 15, but didn't we all do stupid stuff when we were teenagers?
I think she's an interesting and thoughtful person who continues to grow and stretch herself as an artist. Count me as a fan.
Posted by: Karla Fisk | October 3, 2007 08:39 PM