Thank you to our friends over at Upworthy for this insightful, moving interview with Dustin Hoffman for the AFI.
So what is it that makes Dustin Hoffman break down crying when he talks about filming the gender-swap film ‘Tootsie’? The reality of how many interesting women are overlooked because of society’s “brainwashing” about the importance of beauty.
Find more amazing stuff like this at Upworthy.
The reality of how many interesting women are overlooked because of society’s “brainwashing” about the importance of beauty.
Boohoo.
Men have to be charming, confident, witty, willing to take the lead, make the first move, initiate everything, pay for dates, have passion in their lives and demonstrate growth potential, read all kinds of signals, etc, etc.
All women have to do to be deemed attractive is look decent and not have a repellant personality.
So no, women are hardly oppressed by beauty standards. They have to fulfill two simple requirements, compared to the 100 + requirements men have to fulfill.
@Bay Area Guy: while I mostly agree with your pointing out how men ALSO have to fulfill “requirements” to be appreciated, playing the “We have it worse!” game is not going anywhere, and not helping anyone. Many feminists have done that for decades, and the only result – IMHO – is they are less and less listened because of it. Life is hard for everybody – although in different ways. My suffering does not – and should not – diminish others’ suffering. We are all in this life together so, instead of whining, it’s way better understand and help each… Read more »
We are all in this life together so, instead of whining, it’s way better understand and help each other. The problem is that men are expected to afford women an understanding that women rarely, if ever, give in return. Even the most anti-woman manosphere sites I’ve read encourage men to hit the gym, travel and become more cultured, develop hobbies, etc. Despite their women bashing, they still advocate self-improvement and tell men that they have to take charge of their lives. Where’s the female or feminist equivalent of this? How many feminist women do you see telling women to drop… Read more »
Expectations of male and female beauty are not interchangeable, Growing up I remember the phrase “A Handsome Woman” applied to a very different standard than a “beautiful woman”. His tootsie character was a classic handsome woman…….yet I don’t remember any equivalent for adult males that exhibited feminine beauty standards?
I loved that video. Way to go Dustin Hoffman. Our society is definitely obsessed with physical beauty. Women are judged harshly.
“Our society”? Really?
Tell me one society that isn’t, either present or past.
I just read (on Quora) about how prospective spouses in India are judged primarily about their looks, and it’s way worse than in the West.
Is it bad? I agree it is.
But it’s also natural, so please stop whining about “moral decay” or such. It’s built-in; we’re born with it.
Heck, even animals (both male and female) choose partners basing on physical looks.
Oh, and BTW, also men are often judged harshly about their looks – at least, we have almost reached equality regarding that. 😉