Journalist Farahnaz Zahidi , a sub-editor at The Express Tribune in Karachi, has asserted that lookism is an issue in Pakistan. I suggested in my last blog that —contrary to some assertions—few people in Pakistan would be familiar enough with female faces for lookism to be a problem in that country. (Unfairly, lookism swirls primarily around female faces, tho male faces—and bodies of both genders—come into play sometimes.) To make my case, I stated that there were plenty of Muslims in … [Read more...]
Fairest of ’em all? Is lookism also a problem in Islam?
Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia. Islam is the official religion of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.This means many women cover their faces partly or fully in public. Lookism in Pakistan? In light of these figures, a lot of women probably wear veils in Pakistan. Thus, it's amazing that lookism is a problem in this Islamic country, just as it is in the West. While I've not delved into all the whys and wherefores of "veiling" women's faces, I do … [Read more...]
Lookism: Plus-Sized, bi-racial women photoshopped ’round the world.
Make me beautiful. Last year in June, a freelance journalist asked artists from 19 countries around the world to photoshop her face with instructions to make me “beautiful.” The hope was that in altering her face, the artists and/or designers involved in the project would (subconsciously?) access their personal and cultural constructs of beauty. The results of the "Before-After" effort went viral, and the journalist was written up in Time and the Chicago Tribue and appeared on CNN and … [Read more...]
How to be attractive to others—a New Year’s Eve PSA.
If you've been following my blog, you know that I rail against lookism most of the time. In the spirit of fair play, tho, I'm featuring tips today garnered from recent research about how men and women can enhance their chances of being physically attractive to the opposite sex. This might come in handy New Years Eve, even for couples who've already attracted the partner of their dreams (never hurts to repackage the product.) This is a public service announcement, therefore. PSA's … [Read more...]
Oscar Pistorius’sentencing suggests he’s a psychopath.
Finally, the other shoe has dropped. And the judge has answered our question . . . sort of. The question asked several Pistorius blogs ago was, does Oscar have psychopathic tendencies like Lance Armstrong and OJ Simpson? Because I felt I knew less about Oscar than Lance and OJ and because a different culture and criminal justice system was at work, I decided to let the judge determine Oscar's mental state. Psychopath? By sentencing Oscar to five years—much less than the ten years she might … [Read more...]
Uglies, Pretties—the surgeries, the lookism.
Since so many of you resonated with my review of Wonder , I thought you'd like to know about another juvenile/young adult book series called Uglies and Pretties. In fact, the series has expanded to include books titled Specials (2006) and Extras (2007). The latter deals with the obsession of so many with fame—something I deal with from time to time in this blog. Young adult lookism. Set in a future dystopia where things aren't great, but economic challenges have receded, … [Read more...]
O.J. Pistorius? Another psychopath like O.J?
Judge Thokozile Masipa handed down her judgment in a South African high court on Friday. She found Oscar Pistorius guilty of "culpable homicide,'' similar to American "manslaughter." But whether it's the equivalent of American voluntary or involuntary manslaughter may be resolved when she sentences him. Judge Masipa felt prosecutors didn't make a strong enough case for premeditation which would've meant Pistorius was guilty of first degree murder. Bladerunner Pistorius During the sentencing … [Read more...]