One topic in gender issues that I rarely see discussed [View all]

Women have the power/privilege of sexual attractiveness and being desired.

This IS a power. Furthermore, it is a power that men by and large do not have. Can it also be a curse? Yes, sure. People DO talk about the curse of beauty, about how they just want to be left alone. Women also like to talk about how they are "invisible" when they reach middle age. Some are quite happy to become invisible, others less so. But most of them can look back on a time when they felt beautiful, attractive and desired. Do men have many other powers that women do not have? Yes, sure. But that does not mean this does not deserve to be talked about.

It seems this is verboten to talk about and doing so carries the risk of being labelled everything from an MRA to a misogynist.

Most women, at some point in their life, have experienced the power to influence or even manipulate men (or other women) with their sexual attractiveness. Most men do not have that experience. And with that power comes also the naturally good feelings that come with being desired; self-confidence, pride, whatever. All humans enjoy such feelings however superficial or narcissistic they may be. Is this not true? Do women think that men are so different that the feeling of "being beautiful" is not needed by them despite the powerful need that so many women have to do so?

If you think that women DO NOT need to "feel beautiful", consider all the "Yes you ARE beautiful" messages aimed at women.Naturally you could say men don't need these because they have so much power in society, but I think that answer is too facile.

To rephrase this conversation: Are men and women so different that men's need to feel beautiful/attractive/desired is not worthy of even discussion?