How A Woman’s Appearance Matters

Every day women struggle to make themselves more attractive. Our obsession with physical attractiveness is evident by what we spend our money on. Most people feel what is important is what is inside each person.

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Image courtesy of Victor Soto via Flickr.

Alexander McQueen the famous designer stated:

?I design clothes because I don’t want women to look all innocent and naive. I want woman to look stronger. I don’t like women to be taken advantage of. I don’t like men whistling at women in the street. I think they deserve more respect. I like men to keep their distance from women; I like men to be stunned by an entrance. I’ve seen a woman get nearly beaten to death by her husband. I know what misogyny is, I want people to be afraid of the women I dress.”

By definition, misogyny is “hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women, or prejudice against women.” It can be found in every society and every country. Do the clothes make the woman? Certainly, societies judge people based on how they are dressed and their appearance. Many of these judgments are formed before someone even takes the time to become familiar with the individual behind the appearance. Judgments are made based on money, culture, and education level as well, but appearance is the first perception for judgment.

Alexander McQueen wanted to help women show their inner character and inner strength when they wore his clothes. If a woman knows her true character and strength, she will not be afraid to defend herself. A woman made to feel fearful of a man is much easier to intimidate and control. Society really has two sets of rules for women. One is that we are to be kept as sweet, innocent caretakers. The second is that we must be the beautiful, sexy bombshell. There doesn’t seem to be any room for being a combination of both. Women are multifaceted just as men are. Perhaps, Alexander McQueen was trying to challenge society’s thinking of women and how we are seen. Women should be allowed to choose their clothing for themselves and not the image society expects. This is not always a choice or a right given to women around the world.

Women should support other women and not judge each other’s fashion choices harshly. Women can be very judgmental and critical of one another. While a woman may dress to impress a man, she is also dressing to send a message to other women as well. We, as a gender, should support and help one another. The women’s movement of the past decade has brought women a long way. If we want society to view us in a certain light then we must continue to support one another first.

Is it a man’s task to challenge how society thinks and addresses women? Yes. Is it a woman’s job to change how society thinks of us? Yes. It is everyone’s issue to change how women are viewed. It will take work from both men and women around the world to change the views of women in society. As with many problems in our world, the task of fixing or changing things does not belong to one group of people. It belongs to everyone. We are in this world together, and we need to take care of one another while we are here.

Sarah Hatter is a proud liberal writer for Liberal America. She is married with three kids. Women's issues have always mattered a great deal to her. Raising children herself, these issues have become even more important. She greatly cares about women around the globe, and the issues they are facing.You can follow her writings on facebook on the My Liberal Corner page.