Different Gender Different Looks
Does any woman feel content with her appearance? In the essay “The Ugly Truth about Beauty,” Dave Barry answers for all women and claims females feel “not good enough.” He makes remarks about how differently men and women think when it comes to appearance. Barry inaccurately states that men are okay with being average, women are never satisfied with their image, and Barbie dolls are the root of a woman’s motivation to dress up.
In “The Ugly Truth about Beauty,” Barry makes it clear that both genders have a different way of seeing themselves. According to Barry, when it comes to self-image, men and women have a different way of thinking. Given that, men always see themselves as average regardless of their appearance, and women always look at themselves as less than average. In addition, Barry says that women grew up with beautiful Barbie dolls influencing them how to look. Men on the other hand, had action figures that were not attractive; that allowed them to believe average was okay. Barry also says, women try to make themselves look better by mimicking famous figures, but in reality they never look as good. Women blame their make-up tactics on men because they believe men desire women who look like Cindy Crawford. He says, “Of course many women will argue that the reason they become obsessed with trying to look like Cindy Crawford is that men, being as shallow as a drop of spit, WANT women to look that way” (Barry 6). Barry expresses that men do not notice anyway. Men and women’s perceptions of beauty are entirely different; women see themselves uglier than what they are, and men see themselves as irresistible and better than what they are.
Barry believes that men do not worry about their appearance; men are okay with looking average. He states, “Being average does not bother [men]; average is fine, for men” (Barry 6). I do not feel the same way as Barry. I believe men can have just as many insecurities as women. This does not mean they always show their insecurities or express them around others. I simply mean not all men are the same, and no one has the right to categorize them. Having less confidence does not make them any less of a man. Is Barry saying he does not have any insecurities? Personally, I know a peer who does not have the highest self-esteem; he does not believe he is anywhere close to being called “good-looking.” With that being said, he lacks the confidence to ask girls out on a date in fear of rejection. Of course he is not ugly, but he sees himself that way. The man I know is not the only one who feels below unattractive, several other people do too.
Women are not satisfied with their appearance. According to Barry, the previous statement is accurate. Barry claims, “If I had to express, in three words, what I believe most women think about their appearance, those words would be: ‘not good enough’” (qtd. in Barry 6). I could not disagree more. Just like men, women are being categorized. Also, all women are different. No two people think exactly the same. With my own eyes, I have seen pictures women post with captions that read “I look hot today” and “#modelstatus.” This does not sound like a woman who is insecure about herself. Women can be overfilled with confidence. I know women who reject men because they believe they are “too good for them.” Of course, not all women think this way, but there are women who truly believe they are more attractive than others, proving that not all women are dissatisfied with their looks.
I loved playing with dolls. Who has played with Barbie dolls? Who has gotten their motivation to dress up from Barbie dolls? Barry seems to be sold on the fact that women desire to be like the plastic toys; he believes women only perspire to look good because of the doll. He says, “But women grow up thinking they need to look like Barbie, which for most women is impossible, although there is a multibillion-dollar beauty industry devoted to convincing women that they must try” (Barry 6). I have never, in my lifetime, tried to look like Barbie, and I played with the toy constantly. I have heard of women who undergo plastic surgery in order to look exactly like Barbie, but the females I know have never thought twice about looking like the doll. Instead, they perspire for originality. While there are some women who wish to be like Barbie, there are others who wish to be an original form--themselves. I do not wish to look like everyone else, I would rather be myself. This proves that not all women would like to be like Barbie.
In conclusion, Barry believes men always think they look okay, women do not accept their appearance, and women idolize Barbie dolls. I completely disagree with what he is saying. I believe that just because men and women are different genders does not mean they have different ways of viewing their appearances. They both can feel insecure. I also believe men can feel unattractive , and women can feel overly confident about their appearance . A man can notice his flaws just like a woman can, and a woman can be content with her appearance just like a man can. Only a woman, which Barry is not, can answer the question: Does any woman feel confident with herself, or can only men feel that way?
Works Cited
Barry, Dave. "The Ugly Truth About Beauty." Miami Herald (1998): 6. Miami Herald. Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 1998. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <https://www.deltacollege.edu/emp/pwall/documents/TheUglyTruthAboutBeauty.pdf>.
In “The Ugly Truth about Beauty,” Barry makes it clear that both genders have a different way of seeing themselves. According to Barry, when it comes to self-image, men and women have a different way of thinking. Given that, men always see themselves as average regardless of their appearance, and women always look at themselves as less than average. In addition, Barry says that women grew up with beautiful Barbie dolls influencing them how to look. Men on the other hand, had action figures that were not attractive; that allowed them to believe average was okay. Barry also says, women try to make themselves look better by mimicking famous figures, but in reality they never look as good. Women blame their make-up tactics on men because they believe men desire women who look like Cindy Crawford. He says, “Of course many women will argue that the reason they become obsessed with trying to look like Cindy Crawford is that men, being as shallow as a drop of spit, WANT women to look that way” (Barry 6). Barry expresses that men do not notice anyway. Men and women’s perceptions of beauty are entirely different; women see themselves uglier than what they are, and men see themselves as irresistible and better than what they are.
Barry believes that men do not worry about their appearance; men are okay with looking average. He states, “Being average does not bother [men]; average is fine, for men” (Barry 6). I do not feel the same way as Barry. I believe men can have just as many insecurities as women. This does not mean they always show their insecurities or express them around others. I simply mean not all men are the same, and no one has the right to categorize them. Having less confidence does not make them any less of a man. Is Barry saying he does not have any insecurities? Personally, I know a peer who does not have the highest self-esteem; he does not believe he is anywhere close to being called “good-looking.” With that being said, he lacks the confidence to ask girls out on a date in fear of rejection. Of course he is not ugly, but he sees himself that way. The man I know is not the only one who feels below unattractive, several other people do too.
Women are not satisfied with their appearance. According to Barry, the previous statement is accurate. Barry claims, “If I had to express, in three words, what I believe most women think about their appearance, those words would be: ‘not good enough’” (qtd. in Barry 6). I could not disagree more. Just like men, women are being categorized. Also, all women are different. No two people think exactly the same. With my own eyes, I have seen pictures women post with captions that read “I look hot today” and “#modelstatus.” This does not sound like a woman who is insecure about herself. Women can be overfilled with confidence. I know women who reject men because they believe they are “too good for them.” Of course, not all women think this way, but there are women who truly believe they are more attractive than others, proving that not all women are dissatisfied with their looks.
I loved playing with dolls. Who has played with Barbie dolls? Who has gotten their motivation to dress up from Barbie dolls? Barry seems to be sold on the fact that women desire to be like the plastic toys; he believes women only perspire to look good because of the doll. He says, “But women grow up thinking they need to look like Barbie, which for most women is impossible, although there is a multibillion-dollar beauty industry devoted to convincing women that they must try” (Barry 6). I have never, in my lifetime, tried to look like Barbie, and I played with the toy constantly. I have heard of women who undergo plastic surgery in order to look exactly like Barbie, but the females I know have never thought twice about looking like the doll. Instead, they perspire for originality. While there are some women who wish to be like Barbie, there are others who wish to be an original form--themselves. I do not wish to look like everyone else, I would rather be myself. This proves that not all women would like to be like Barbie.
In conclusion, Barry believes men always think they look okay, women do not accept their appearance, and women idolize Barbie dolls. I completely disagree with what he is saying. I believe that just because men and women are different genders does not mean they have different ways of viewing their appearances. They both can feel insecure. I also believe men can feel unattractive , and women can feel overly confident about their appearance . A man can notice his flaws just like a woman can, and a woman can be content with her appearance just like a man can. Only a woman, which Barry is not, can answer the question: Does any woman feel confident with herself, or can only men feel that way?
Works Cited
Barry, Dave. "The Ugly Truth About Beauty." Miami Herald (1998): 6. Miami Herald. Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 1998. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <https://www.deltacollege.edu/emp/pwall/documents/TheUglyTruthAboutBeauty.pdf>.