Fran Drescher

How ironic does it get?
I love Fran, but her claim to fame is only based on looks and severely contrived over the top clothing and a great body on her show "The Nanny"

Hey dont knock Fran- she's bringing to the forefront an issue that needs attention. I'm sure this isnt something women are proud of, and its not discussed enough, as are many societal issues in repressed America. As for me, I think its a shame but it is what it is- its the game and those women who can go outside the box, having power and money- are simply playing the game. Same as men, who no matter how much they acheive as human beings, are still regarded by women as something to be evaluated by their genetics AND their wallets.

I like to say- when a woman can meet me and NOt ask me what i do for a living- is when I'll NOT look at their breasts legs and ass to first gauge my own interest.

yes of course, those arent the final evaluators on whether I want to develop a relationship with a woman- but its what comes first. I'm just being honest. Women do the same thing- only with different criteria. Thats why I go to the gym and work hard to provide a nice strong presentation to any woman I want to get with, same as she likely makes efforts to her gender so when we meet- the mating rituals can continue.

I agree that "The Beauty Myth" is more relevant than ever, Fran, but I think it's a cop-out to blame the outsized power of women's looks on a "man's world". I notice a greater correlation of looks:power in female-dominated sectors of society (i.e. the fashion world's own doyenne, Anna Wintour, is far more pitiless regarding the homely than any man I've come across). Women shmushing their feet into 5-inch heels? Some bizarre power game, women trying to impress other women. I actually think the beauty myth is growing in sway, a sign of a Susan Faludi-esque backlash for which we women are ourselves responsible. I wonder if this backlash represents a strange ambivalence about the power we have actually achieved.

I'll buy and read this book just to dispute it. I love arguing against this sort of tripe. I think beauty is a wonderful way of judging people, men and women--and both sexes are certainly susceptible to this criteria. It's so far preferable to something like money or success. There are more fat, ugly, lazy, talentless people with lots of money in this country than anywhere else on the planet. We should be like the Greeks, and judge primarily on the bones and the flesh. Of course this leaves the rest of us mortals to worship and try to buy the truly beautiful. It's the banality of an intense consumerism that fools us into believing that we can buy our way into every elect. That's the silly nonsense that needs putting down. BOKO