This comment was by ogwriter on the post Are Some Men Intimidated by Strong Women?
“I date a woman from Canton who has been in his country for 10 years. She is short, round and wears no make up. She dresses like a boy and has, for years, heard about it from her parents, who would like her to make herself look more conventionally attractive. So she can get married. I asked her recently what the beauty standards were in China and she said they are much like they are here; tall, slim, longhair etc. I told her that in America women who don’t meet the beauty standard often have many psychological problems. She was aghast at this. I asked her why she doesn’t have such problems and she said, “Even though I look like this, I like myself. I wasn’t born beautiful in that way so why should I try to be?” Overall, culturally, there is pragmatism in her culture that calls a spade a spade and there is an expectation that one will be happy with whatever gifts one is given in life. This took some getting used to, as my proud American sensibilities fought back. She calls me old all the time-which is unthinkable in American culture- but is true. We have as real a relationship as I have ever had in my entre life.”
Photo: Biscotte / flickr