Everything is Beautiful (in its own way)

Had a little misunderstanding on Jim Butcher's mailing list earlier. There was a thread which had gone from word meanings to dress. One poster had written about seeing a five year old girl dressed in a skin tight mini skirt, hot pink tight top and knee length boots with two inch heels. Oh, and fish net stockings(what else).

There were a few posts in which the words decent/indecent came up regarding the issue of dressing a five year old (or allowing her to dress) this way. I wrote in mentioning that, emotionally charged words aside, it was a very constrictive, uncomfortable, and unhealthy (two inch heels are a bitch on adult feet, what they'll cost to a five year old years down the line is a matter for chiropodists to speculate).

As an aside, I happened to mention that I thought it was totally inappropriate unless you were between the ages of 18 and 29 and had a perfect, bulgeless body. I should know better than to speak lightly.

So, naturally, someone posted to the list that they weren't criticizing my opinion, then went on to suggest that I'm also revolted by the idea of elderly people having sex, that our society (and I by association) am superficial and only think perfect bodies should be seen. I have a sneaking suspicion she thinks I am between 18 and 29, with a fab bod who spends my time snickering at ugly people.

I'm feeling a little irritated right now that I'm feeling defensive about my opinion. After all, one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes is "Number 22 Looks Just Like You" about a future where people were forced to have surgery so that everyone would be beautiful (and lobotomized). Rod Serling was a good writer who managed to say a lot in a half hour playlet about the nature of beauty and the importance of individuality and diversity. It was ahead of its time, in this age of plastic surgery and extreme makeovers. It worries me sometimes. It's shown so much on TV and the movies; we're getting Hollywood's view on the importance of looks shoved down our throats. I've written before that I'm an optimist, so I still believe that the majority of people outside Hollywood and NYC don't buy into that.

I'm 44 and not ashamed to say it (or put it on this blog). I'm also short and stout (being kind here) and if I ever go outside in a midriff baring outfit, it would be because my cold, stiff body is being taken out by ambulance.

Am I ashamed of my body? No. Neither do I think it's a work of art. Because I say that, some people might try to tell me I have "poor self esteem." My reply would be that it's a fair and honest assessment and I'm comfortable with it. Isn't it more a sign of poor self esteem if you're afraid to be honest with yourself?

Maybe it's my age, maybe it's just the way I was raised, but I don't believe that flaunting my body, wearing revealing outfits, shows pride in myself. It has nothing to do with sexuality. I was taught to dress to complement my body, minimize the flaws, accentuate the positive. Even if I were gorgeous, the same rules would apply. I've seen pictures of beautiful movie stars wearing outfits that didn't flatter them. Did they know that when they looked in the mirror and didn't care? If they did, I say go for it, girl! Just don't anybody insist that I say that they're looking their best.