women’s appearance is often viewed as existing on a scale from unattractive to attractive, but that’s way too benign a conceptualization. the reality is that we exist on a scale from dehumanized to acceptable. attractiveness is just one of many qualities that a human might have; for us, physical configurations are often matters of life and death. our bodies determine whether we’ll be treated w some degree of basic human decency, or whether we’ll be utterly discarded by the world. meeting the criteria for women’s appearance under patriarchy is not a question of mere attractiveness but of emotional and physical survival
Listen. Cut your own hair. Dye it blue, then shave it off when you’re bored of it. Wear that outfit with those shoes. Paint your nails with all the colors of the rainbow. Get that tattoo. Go to the movies alone. Get coffee, then drink it at that special place you like. Mouth the words of the song you’re listening to on public transport. Put that thing on your wall. Bake. Draw. Dance in your underwear. Life is so much better when you don’t give a fuck
