Randomness

[honeybee]

A few recent cases not withstanding, most of the big pageant winners these days are ethnic. The popularity of beauty pageants has faded in the US to the point where Miss America isn't even going to be televised anymore.

But in South American and Asia - Miss Universe is a huge world event. I grew up partially in Aruba and when I go down there - who is their Miss Universe entry is as big as the Olympics or the Superbowl. Aruba isn't far from Venezuela - and there being Miss Universe is considered the highest honor a woman can bring to the country. *higher than the noble prize* I think its the same in places like Thailand and the Philippines. When I visit, sometimes I have to put my tongue in check because other countries have different take that I do.

Being the graduate of a women's college and a feminist mother, I recognize some of the negatives about pageants - but now that there are so many other fabulous opportunities for young women and there are so many alternative images - I don't think it's a big deal if someone wants to compete in one any more. It was back when this was presented as the one true ideal that it was irksome. And that might be troublesome in some of these countries that embrace pageants - is that this is considered the one true ideal. But that doesn't make it okay for me to snark on their culture while I'm a visitor.

One note, back in the 1960s when backlash against beauty pageants had really started in earnest - they could not find a Miss Massachusetts to compete in the Miss USA pageant. Someone asked my Mom to do it when she was a freshman in college. She said no. My mom never told me that story - her sisters told me.

[WarpGirl]

I'm not saying its wrong to be in a pagent. I don't think they're evil or anything... Well I think the the kiddie (under the age of 12) ones are... I just find it strange that the women in them are all made to look alike. There's nothing unique about them when they're out of the pagent clothes hair and make up they're much more beautiful.

[Aquarius]

Again, it's all about the standards that are set, and what historically has made a "winner." Like many things in life, not all things are going to be geared toward everyone. Even when I was younger and thinner and cuter, I didn't look like that. I wasn't "pageant pretty." So, I made a few bucks and scored some free clothes and hair by modeling for those who *did* appreciate what made me "unique". It's just a matter of using what you have for the people who want it.

[WarpGirl]

Here's something interesting... People have been sending messages through Jewelry from the beginning of time, modern times are not immune... http://specials.msn.com/A-List/Madelein ... ageindex=1

[Alelou]

One of my students did her research paper on the one area of female attractiveness that all cultures seem to agree on, and that's waist to hip ratio -- which is apparently a proxy indicator of the level of estrogen and therefore fertility of a woman. Anyway, she related it to beauty queens and Barbies somehow, though I forget. She also noted one study that women with ultra-high estrogen tend to be only serially monogamous, often trading up to the next man. Sort of the equivalent of the successful alpha male who keeps moving on to a prettier and younger woman...

She suggested that perhaps it was unfair to judge this behavior as immoral, rather than just biologically determined, but I got off the bus at that point. But at any rate, I think her new major of anthropology is going to be a good fit.

[WarpGirl]

I love anthropology. She sounds interesting. But while I realize the waist to hip ratio is pretty standard. There are other things that makes each woman unique and in a beauty contest I find it odd that they are never celebrated.

[Distracted]

The waist to hip ratio is a measure of fertility? That's news to me. I've got no hips and am seriously "back" deficient from birth but the second I stop preventing it by some means or other, I get pregnant. I guess there's always an exception to every rule.

[Alelou]

It's not an accurate measure, but apparently it's the best you can do from eye-balling women and according to her research there is some basis for it. I would not say a freshman comp I research paper is the last word on anything, however.

Similarly, I've read that darker lips are subliminally more attractive to men because they suggest less anemia, which would affect ability to successfully have children.

But a lot of things we "know" turn out to be hooey upon closer examination. There's a book out right now exploding all the 'myths' about the disadvantages of being a short male. (I know TRIP buys into that one.)

[WarpGirl]

(I know TRIP buys into that one.)

Say what!

[Alelou]

You don't remember him talking about "Mr. Tall and Popular" at the beginning of "Vanishing Point?"

[WarpGirl]

No. Hmm.

[honeybee]

So. On my plane last night - an annoucement came over the pa: "Is there a doctor on board?" Then a few flight attendants running down the ailes with defibs and oxygen.

I thought for sure we were going to land in Shannon but it was a lady in a diabetic coma - who spoke only Romanian - and a nurse revived her so we landed in London. With wings covered in ash.

Now I am waiting for my room before heading off to the Tate Modern.

[WarpGirl]

Golly I'm glad everything worked out and you're safe. Getting on a plane and heading into volcanic ash is not really all that appealing to me right now. OK I admit it the thought scares me to death. I hope KTR is OK.

[Aikiweezie]

So. On my plane last night - an annoucement came over the pa: "Is there a doctor on board?" Then a few flight attendants running down the ailes with defibs and oxygen.

I thought for sure we were going to land in Shannon but it was a lady in a diabetic coma - who spoke only Romanian - and a nurse revived her so we landed in London. With wings covered in ash.

Now I am waiting for my room before heading off to the Tate Modern.

Oh my goodness. I hope the rest of your trip is uneventful.

[honeybee]

I'm safe and sound! Thanks for the good wishes WG & AwZ. It could have been a lot worse. I was very impressed with how professional and calm the flight attendants were.

I'm in my hotel trying to stay up until 8pm local time before crashing. Went out to the Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge this afternoon. The rest of the trip will mostly be conferencing - though I might sneak out to see another site or two.