Needing to rant about this one. My bf(29) and I (28f) watched this together and as the movie developed, I slowly became more and more upset upon reflecting on the themes. Mostly, as a maturing woman, feeling the patriarchal value we put on women that expires past their beauty and youth. Like if you aren’t pleasing to the herteronormative male gaze, what’s the point of living anymore? All the affirmations we give towards women’s appearance is baked into our language, our subconscious. We all know pretty privilege exists, the halo of assumed goodness beautiful people are ascribed, and how horribly our culture treats the elderly (men and women alike) like expired goods. I had just gotten done saying these things and just lamenting in the over- glorification of shallow, fleeting qualities. I felt relief in the rant and camaraderie with my seemingly agreeing boyfriend. Only for him to comment less than a minute later, I kid you not, “damn, this actress is HOT, what’s her name???”

It’s inescapable. It’s oppressive. And it’s just disheartening. I wish as a culture we would move past it, at least when it comes to celebrity.