Nonsensical creations of Society: Part 1 Clothing and Appearances
Where to start…I suppose with an explanation for myself…
Most everything you read in this blog will be random, as–for the most part–I am myself quite random. My mind flits about constantly from thought to thought. One thing leads to another and another and another. Thus, contemplations on the shape of the world may somehow end in “and why do girls wear thongs?” Sometimes it doesn’t even start with a particular thought, but a situation which prompts a long speech that repeats itself in my head over and over until I deposit it somewhere. That is where this one is coming from.
You see, when the idea for this blog came to be I was sitting here in a towel because I generally refuse to get dressed right away. I’m not the only one who does this either, I hear, so I feel quite justified in this. Anyways, I was sitting here in my towel, and as usually happens when I get bored I started examining my current state in reality…which just so happened to be sitting naked in a towel in front of an open window. This led to thoughts of why I should have to get dressed at all, and eventually culminated in why anyone should have to get dressed and otherwise alter themselves in order to face the world. So, now that I’ve explained myself, here it is.
First off, I don’t believe anyone who doesn’t want to be dressed should be. I believe it is a personal choice, especially in the household. Why wasn’t I dressed? Well, for one, sometimes I really would rather see myself naked than clothed. Then of course there’s the fact that clothing will rarely be 100% comfortable. It itches, it catches, it scratches, it pinches, it pulls, and occasionally it tries to violate you all together. I would rather not be subjected to rape by jeans. Another reason, it’s summer, it’s hot, why should I have to submit myself to further temperature torture by applying more layers? And finally…we haven’t done laundry since I arrived at this place (I’m staying with a family friend.). I am currently staring at a mountainous pile of clothing. And believe me, this does make a difference in my being dressed. I will fully confess that, though I am dressed now, I did not have any underwear (though commando is quite comfortable) and I am currently wearing my last bra. Why don’t you just do the laundry? She has no washer and dryer and cannot afford a laundromat…we have to go to another place entirely…possibly tomorrow or later. Thus, sometimes getting dressed is just to complicated. So why should someone have to if they don’t want to?
The answer is: Current society has made people want to hide their true selves.
You might say, “Oh, they just want you to hide your nakedness.” But if you look at some of today’s fashions, that can’t be true. Yes, men have always and probably will always wear a fair amount of clothing, especially compared to women. But, for the sake of argument, let’s look at the Woman’s World in this department, since this seems to be where the major problem lies.
Yes, clothing is getting skimpier and skimpier. Women now have to get full-body tans if they want no visible tan-lines in public. They have to completely wax in order to wear smaller and smaller pieces of cloth that daring people still venture to call shorts. Backs show, midriffs show, sometimes even everything but the nipple. It’s almost to the point that all we are hiding is our reproductive nature, and how is that a thing to be ashamed of?
But, right there is the key word: shame. People don’t wear clothing because it’s bad to be naked, they wear it because, deep down, there is something about their bodies they are ashamed of. (Again, we’re talking about the woman’s world, I wouldn’t claim to know a man’s point of view on this.) Clothes are now tailored to take care of this. What’s your problem? We can fix it. I’m unhappy with my weight. Well, if you wear this design, it will have a slimming effect. My butt sags. If you wear this top with this bottom, you can take attention away from that saggy butt. My thighs are disgusting. Cover them up. I have a turkey neck. Wear a turtle neck. My breasts are too small to be noticed. Wear a push-up bra. My breasts are so big they cause eclipses. Wear a sports bra. It goes on and on and on.
Your body is nothing to be ashamed of, people. If you’re unhappy with something about yourself, most of these problems can be taken care of with simple diet changes and an increase in focused exercise. Anything that can’t be changed? Well, just remember, everyone is different and unique; and it is that that makes us uniquely beautiful. So what if you don’t look like one of those anorexic models, chances are, you’re a lot happier than they are and will be less sickly later in life. So what if that pig down the street talks about how disgusting your thighs or your gut or your butt or whatever looks. That just shows what a loser he is; believe me, he’ll never get far relationship-wise. Anyone worth being in a relationship with will love you no matter what you look like. You shouldn’t have to get double D breasts, a butt lift, and a tummy tuck to satisfy him.
I’m not saying, in order to be happy with yourself you have to run around naked. It’s a personal choice; some people just don’t want to run around with the wind whistling through every orifice of their body. But I am saying that most attire these days is made specifically to hide, enhance, or alter some part of your body that you are unhappy with. You should learn to be happy with your body without this aid. Sure, go right ahead and keep wearing that kind of clothing, but in the end all you’re doing is hiding your true self from the world and setting yourself up for disappointment when you catch a guy who later runs as soon as he realizes you’re not perfect. If nothing else, try to stand naked in front of the mirror everyday and tell yourself that you’re beautiful in your own way. Men are much happier to be with women who are happy with themselves (unless they’re the sick jerks that thrive of low self-esteems and love to put their women down).
This goes for make-up too. It serves the same function as clothing. Hide, enhance, alter. Yes, it looks nice. Decorate yourself however you want. But don’t pile it on until you’re unrecognizable without it. And at least try to be happy with how you look without it. Blemishes are natural, everyone gets them; anyone who picks at you for it is forgetting that they’ve experienced the same thing, and karma-wise will have a big zit waiting for them in the future. Scars happen, they’re another thing that make you unique, and they’re also like markers for the events of your life. Lipstick, ugh, a curse on all lipstick. Personally, I don’t see how anyone wears it. It feels awful, and I’ve met quite a few men who don’t want to be kissed and women who don’t want to kiss when lipstick is in the equation. So what’s the point? Who the hell has naturally blood-red lips? Wouldn’t you laugh at someone who did? So why do you purposefully make your lips this way? Eye make-up. I actually like eye make-up. But a lot of women seem to put so much on their eyelids that they droop all day and make them look tired, and even more of them are now putting eyeliner on the inside of their eyelid; which makes their eyes water and their liner smudge. Then of course, the eyeshadow doesn’t always stay how it’s supposed to be, the mascara cakes, and the liner fades; so you have to constantly keep up maintenance on your face througout the day. What’s the point? Why use up so much valuable time doing this?
Once again, I think it’s because you’re ashamed. And I will state, once and for all, that not all of this shame stems from yourself. Society seems to enjoy making people feel ashamed, simply to increase sales on this or that. Not just advertisements either. I once talked to a girl after putting on make-up for the first time, and the FIRST thing out of her mouth was “Wow, you look SO much better with make-up.” So, right there, comments like that; instant self-esteem drop. My advice, ignore them; they’re drones that watch all of the make-up and fashion shows and follow their words like a scripture.
Again, I’m not saying don’t wear make-up, don’t wear clothes; it’s a personal choice. But think about why you’re wearing these things, and before you put them on try to be happy with how you look au naturale. If you’re happy with yourself as you are, you’ll be even more pleased by the outcome whenever you put your next “costume” on. And please don’t hide yourself. Enhance, drape, by all means; but don’t make it so no one can see the real you. Because who knows, maybe there’s that special guy out there, looking for someone who looks just like you; he just can’t see you under all of that glam.
That’s all for now. See you at the next thought process.
–Liri
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