The "Plastic" Look

[The_Ida]

^I guess so And well, Denmark is one of the blondest places on earth, so to speak.

 

[PinkGoddess]

^We don't reject it because it's popular, we reject it because it's very aesthetically unpleasing

I was referring to those who do, because they seem to be the ones who make disparaging comments about its wearers. Most people who simply find a look aesthetically unpleasing don't feel the need to judge the intelligence or sexuality of those who wear it.

 

[michyed]

^These judgments do exist for a reason.

 

[PinkGoddess]

^As does the stereotype that "plastic" girls are feminine, pretty and sexually attractive. All stereotypes exist for a reason, but when they're applied as broadly as some people have applied them here, they lose all meaning. That's just common sense.

 

[brokenenglish]

The reason this look leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth is because of where the modern version seemingly originated. p*rno

 

[The_Ida]

^As does the stereotype that "plastic" girls are feminine, pretty and sexually attractive.

That's not a stereotype, that is wishful thinking.

 

[PinkGoddess]

I'm sure in some cases it is, just like it's wishful thinking to label others degoratively to make oneself feel better. That doesn't change the fact that it's still a widely used stereotype.

 

[michyed]

to make oneself feel better

So now every negative opinion we hold of plastic girls is a product of our "insecurities"?

 

[PinkGoddess]

The_Ida mentioned "wishful thinking" and I made the point that wishful thinking applies to both sides. You can't argue that one stereotype holds less weight than the other merely because you don't like it.

 

[The_Ida]

The_Ida mentioned "wishful thinking" and I made the point that wishful thinking applies to both sides. You can't argue that one stereotype holds less weight than the other merely because you don't like it.

I think that there are both negative and positive stereotypes, and both of them has little to do with reality.

Some may think that those who do the plastic look are/look cheap, which isn't true. And some may think that the plastic look is the epitome of femininity, which also isn't true.

BUT. I don't like the plastic look for being so racially and culturally biased. And that is something very concrete that I don't like about it. I think it's VERY American, and American culture is...well, not very appealing to me. I just thinks it looks plain silly. I would feel embarrassed looking like that.

 

[PinkGoddess]

BUT. I don't like the plastic look for being so racially and culturally biased. And that is something very concrete that I don't like about it. I think it's VERY American, and American culture is...well, not very appealing to me.

A look itself cannot be "racially and culturally biased", only people can have such biases. Most styles are better worn by people that fit certain descriptions, sometimes racial/cultural ones. There is no one style that suits everybody equally, and that in my opinion is a good thing. I've never understood the concept of disliking something in any case merely because it appeals to others. Nobody else should dictate why you like something, whether the influence is positive or negative.

 

[ChloeFrancoise]

You seem to be caught up in the idea that we actually care about whether or not something is popular. We don't reject it because some people perceive it to be a popular look and more than once you mention how blond hair, (not even naturally) tanned skin and blue eyes are the epitome of femininity which isn't going to look right to anyone (including those of us from Western cultures, including the States) for reasons I shouldn't even have to point out. And there's no insecurity on my part. I like my dark hair and pale skin. I don't get why people assume that because someone else rejects what they find appealing, they must be insecure or jealous. Sometimes people just don't like something....and that's all there is behind that.

 

[PinkGoddess]

You seem to be caught up in the idea that we actually care about whether or not something is popular. We don't reject it because some people perceive it to be a popular look and more than once you mention how blond hair, (not even naturally) tanned skin and blue eyes are the epitome of femininity which isn't going to look right to anyone (including those of us from Western cultures, including the States) for reasons I shouldn't even have to point out. And there's no insecurity on my part. I like my dark hair and pale skin. I don't get why people assume that because someone else rejects what they find appealing, they must be insecure or jealous. Sometimes people just don't like something....and that's all there is behind that.

I don't think you read carefully enough; I said it's the epitome of femininity in Western culture, which it IS. I said that for this reason alone, many people are willing to reject it. I never said that this applies to most or even many, just those who make personal criticisms against people who wear this particular look. Because really, do perfectly secure people feel the need to denigrate others on the basis of their intelligence and sexuality because of hair and makeup?

 

[The_Ida]

A look itself cannot be "racially and culturally biased", only people can have such biases. Most styles are better worn by people that fit certain descriptions, sometimes racial/cultural ones. There is no one style that suits everybody equally, and that in my opinion is a good thing. I've never understood the concept of disliking something in any case merely because it appeals to others. Nobody else should dictate why you like something, whether the influence is positive or negative.

Uhm...you just admitted that the look actually is racially biased. So what is the problem? You know, the blonde hair, tanned (but not too tanned!) skin etc.

And actually there IS a style that suits everybody. Healthy hair, good skin, groomed eyebrows - et voila, everyone looks good.

It's not like I'm trying to "reject everything traditionally feminine", as you put it. I just don't think that the plastic look is that. And neither does the rest of Western Europe apparently...it's not a very popular look here.

 

[*Bianca*]

I certainly grew up believing that blonde hair, blue eyes, tan skin, was what 'pretty' was. Of course, I was the complete opposite - dark brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin. I think it became ingrained in me rather young, before celeb influences, through books such as Sweet Valley High.

My idea of beauty has obviously exapanded since then - espcially being interested in high fashion models which can be rather unique in their beauty - but not gonna lie, I would still kill to be blonde, blue-eyed and tanned.

ETA: and duh, of course I'm forgetting Barbie, whose influence on young girls, including myself, starts even earlier.

 

[michyed]

I'm referring to post 353 (too lazy to quote
I doubt it's the epitome of femininity in western culture. In fact it's not even close. To judge femininity on the basis of hair color, skin tone and such would be plain superficial (not to mention inaccurate too). Femininity by definition includes personality traits, behavioral distinctions and physical traits that are more unifying and impartial to ancestry.

If by western culture, you are referring to America, then what you consider feminine is still culturally biased. America has always been a mixing pot, for centuries attracting influxes of racially-diverse immigrants. I assume that these immigrants (that have long adapted and only added to the homogeneity of American culture) are not included in your definition of "western culture"?

 

[ChloeFrancoise]

Yep, this is a diverse country. I don't see many tanned blue eyed blondes around here and I don't see people promoting that as the ideal we should all covet. Plus, I was thinking about this and it doesn't actually make sense that a certain coloring combination can be more feminine than another because that implies that no male would be the same coloring. I don't know about anyone else but I haven't seen males with purple skin or green hair (that isn't dyed).

 

[michyed]

^ reminds me of furby and barney...

 

[PinkGoddess]

I'm referring to post 353 (too lazy to quote
I doubt it's the epitome of femininity in western culture. In fact it's not even close. To judge femininity on the basis of hair color, skin tone and such would be plain superficial (not to mention inaccurate too). Femininity by definition includes personality traits, behavioral distinctions and physical traits that are more unifying and impartial to ancestry.

If by western culture, you are referring to America, then what you consider feminine is still culturally biased. America has always been a mixing pot, for centuries attracting influxes of racially-diverse immigrants. I assume that these immigrants (that have long adapted and only added to the homogeneity of American culture) are not included in your definition of "western culture"?

Femininity IS often judged superficially; that is a simple fact. However, it's not that white women are viewed as more feminine in America, it's that the plastic look is associated with femininity, and its wearers are predominantly white. The association is based on correlation, not causation. We can delve into why a "white" style is considered typically attractive, but that would be going off on a tangent. The point is, this look IS associated with attractiveness and femininity, and it IS judged negatively sometimes for this reason alone.

It's not about what I consider feminine (I never even stated my opinion on the look), it's about what American culture does. American culture IS both racially and culturally biased, and this is reflected in its ideal female beauty type. I'm not debating whether it should be, I was only making the point that it is.

 

[PinkGoddess]

Uhm...you just admitted that the look actually is racially biased. So what is the problem? You know, the blonde hair, tanned (but not too tanned!) skin etc.

And actually there IS a style that suits everybody. Healthy hair, good skin, groomed eyebrows - et voila, everyone looks good.

It's not like I'm trying to "reject everything traditionally feminine", as you put it. I just don't think that the plastic look is that. And neither does the rest of Western Europe apparently...it's not a very popular look here.

No, I said a look itself cannot be "racially biased", only people can. Just because a look suits only people of a particular race does not mean it is based on some standard of prejudice, though the reason why it is promoted as the ideal often is.

Healthy hair/good skin/groomed eyebrows is not a distinctive look; many looks are very versatile, but many still either suit certain races better, or only particular races. Are you going to argue that its fair to reject a style simply because it fits into this category?