Women behaving Badly. BOTOX-BITCHING!

I'm caught! Some eagle-eyed woman on Facebook saw right through my pretty fake-face-facade that I deviously posted. And I tried so hard to fool you all! But women sniff out secrets like badgers and don't let you get away with anything they don't approve of. 
Here's the deed: I posted this picture of me, saying no more than long hair are fun even if you are "older". And now it's BITCH-Time, people!

 This is the "provocative" photo

I'm trying to be ironic here, the flabbergasted moment has passed, and this is therefore my announcement: NO, I don't have Botox and fillers in or on me whatsoever; I swear by the rather ample natural bosom of my Mom (which I didn't inherit, by the way). But the bitchy Botox-Accuser wasn't having any of it: "That's Botox and fillers. I'm in the beauty business for 18 years. 65+ without nothing? Just being photogenic and good nutrition? No way!" So it's not humanly possible to look naturally good at 69? So it's Botox or bust? So it's envy, cattiness and backstabbing all over again in the age of newly re-discovered feminism? How disappointing.

And Botox-Lady wasn't the only one on FB who doesn't want me to post because I don't fill the mandatory wrinkle-count "for my age" I guess. 
A 72-year old sunburned woman quickly posted a pix of herself with the comment: "This is me without Botox and expensive creams. Don't look at Sabine with all the spackles on her skin and the bleached hair. She is obviously someone who has to flaunt her good genes constantly". Then another woman piped in: "Exactly, a little less of her would go a long way and make women feel better, prettier and sexier about themselves".

Here's a safe choice!

WOW! It was Burka-time! How liberating.  So, all of a sudden I wasn't only the woman who simply must be a fake - OTHER women needed protection from me. I was expected to disappear for good out of consideration for the poor women who can't get over my looks? What an insult to all women, especially those who seem to be just fine with me around on FB, and in real life. What is happening here, I asked myself? Then another unfortunately all too female thing happened. I call it the Lemming-effect, you know the cute little animals who are mindless, blind followers even if it costs them their lives?

Out of the blue, other women piped in with really dumb stuff, like homilies I'm allergic to: "You should be more modest and maybe then your good looks will reflect your good heart." I'd love to, nice Lady, but how do I do this? Save an animal from the pound and then post it on FB like you do? 

There were more dull lectures about inner and outer beauty, and the claim that looks don't matter - apparently they mean A LOT! And then it got pompous and preachy.

"Unfortunately, a dignified personality isn't a requirement to post photos of yourself. Drawing attention to one's looks for the purpose of garnering attention is always trashy". Here you have it, you billions of trashy social media whores! 

What the f#ck is happening here? Nothing special, just an unvarnished display of the double-standards for, but also amongst women. On one hand we are encouraged to counter society's and (most) men's cruel demand for eternal beauty with self-confidence and grit. But if you do - and look and feel good, the Bitch-Brigade tells you to take it down a notch and crawl back into the shadowy land of self-abnegation and invisibility. 

Women still live by comparing to and competing with other women, and depending on how well they do themselves in the beauty and self-assurance department, they want you out of the race if they can't manage to enjoy your looks and beauty.

Beauty is a double-edged sword, alright. Damned if you are, damned if you're not. The female trap. We can't escape it, can we? Women’s physical appearance is more than ever subjected to the ironclad verdict of society’s unforgiving beauty police – and there are a few female officers among them! And just like the mirror on the wall into which women stare all the time, they are the judge and the executioner, often a cruel enemy, not a kind friend.

The whole beauty drama could be so easily transformed because beauty and looks, any looks, can be inspirational as well. I love to look at faces and photos and do it every day with great curiosity, joy and without judgement. Apparently, for many people, faces will never escape judgement. Faces bring up emotions and feelings, negative associations, old scars and hurtful situations, and of course, it always reveals more about the onlooker than the one looked at. That is also one of the reasons why I never feel "hurt" by any commentary, even the bitchiest ones, certainly not by strangers.

There is one way out of this beauty race, though. Beauty needs a new definition. Stop accepting that it is an unavoidable battle, and that it can be won with traditional weapons. It can't. You will lose, we all will. So, instead, step out of the ring, stop that old boring battle, change the game, and start a new one for a more inspiring concept we all can live with and that gives everybody a chance.  I think it's simple - I've got a few beauty-boosters for you! Courage makes you beautiful, honesty and curiosity, compassion and a critical mind, independence and generosity, warmth and wit, too. DON'T COMPARE! DARE!

And if you happen to have great cheekbones, or fantastic teeth, or gorgeous hair, killer-legs (like mine, yep!) or sparkling green or blue or gray eyes - well, all the better. We, the "Club of Generous Gals" will love and applaud you without a shred of envy and ill will. The rest of you Bitches, just shut the f#ck up!

And here the (short) book of books about the Terror of Beauty
F#ck Beauty Duty and Stop the Madness!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014CBAG1K