ExposedNYC

I was watching Oprah, Ellen, or one of those other daytime self-help tidbits and heard a question that really resonated with me- If we don’t judge our intelligence by Einstein standards, why do we compare our appearance to Giselle?

There is no question that our world is extremely focused on physical appearance. It’s become front page news if a woman loses too much weight, and in the opposite respect, the slightest bit of weight gain is cause for pointed arrows and pregnancy speculation.

And everyday women are just as hard on themselves. I know so many gorgeous girls who could be perfectly dressed, fresh from the gym, get their hair done, indulge in a mani-pedi and would then look in the mirror and completely fixate on their calves being too big. Why is it so much easier to zero in on the negative than the positive?

I wish I could say that awareness makes this an easy tendency to change, but I’m no better than those that I describe. I spent some time this weekend at a dance competition and couldn’t help but envy tall, tan, and toned, teenagers. My rational mind knows that they are in school, have their parent’s financial support, and have the extracurricular freedom to pursue hobbies. My irrational mind, on the other hand, would love to walk into a bar in their low slung jeans and crop top and have every head turn my direction.

What kills me is that even the guys I know that are in mediocre shape are hyper-critical of women they meet out. Even those with a well-earned beer gut are quick to talk shit about the girl who walks in the room looking anything less than perfect. How is it that men who are fifty pounds overweight feel the right to criticize women five pounds overweight?

Sadly, there’s no changing that sizing someone up physically is always going to be faster than getting to know someone. In our instant gratification society, analyzing one of the many factors that can make up compatibility can be as quick as her walk through a doorway. We all know the old saying of eyes being bigger than your stomach. Unfortunately they’re also faster than our brains.

Share This