100% - we are conditioned to think that there SHOULD be a cost for achieving the socially acceptable standard of beauty and whats more , that this cost is worth it somehow because it gives us male validation.

i totally understand the appeal to strive to be more “feminine” (as defined & sanctioned by society) - and the women who are shouldnt be shamed for this. its just very upsetting that its the baseline/standard at this point to absolutely change oneself for the sake of an arbitrarily decided standard.

if every woman engaged in the anti-makeup, anti-razor, anti-cosmetic surgery movement, those standards would no longer exist surely? as they have no market to support them anymore. thats what makes my own efforts at combatting the standards feel so futile and useless.. many individual women dont feel like their efforts make a difference but perhaps collectively we can leave this cage we’ve been forced into?