this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2025
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'What a weird period of time they lived in.' (i.pinimg.com)
submitted 3 weeks ago by TehBamski@lemmy.world to c/funny@sh.itjust.works
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[–] TehBamski@lemmy.world 33 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

Hmmm. I don't see myself as a misogynist. And don't quite understand why I would be considered one for posting this content. (Was it because I didn't find a male equivalent to share as well?)

I found it was 'punching up' at those who spend thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars, to fake their reality. That being said, I understand the feeling of insecurity about your looks, as I'm a balding man. I could have spent the money to use Rogaine or a similar product when I started to go bald early on. But after a few years of thinking about it (back then), researching people's takes for and against it, the cost to maintain it and finally, what kind of person I would consider myself if I did so. I ended up on the long road of accepting who I am. It hasn't been easy, especially in my 20s, when your appearance means so much more. But in the end, I'm glad I didn't go down that path. I've come around and have accepted that this is me, and I'm fine with the lack of hair. (It sure cuts down on haircut costs haha.)

The bigger problem I have overall and why I ended up posting this image, was that I wanted people to A, have a laugh at the unrealistic and realistic sides of things depicted. B, spend some time thinking about their purchasing habits and more so, of what they purchase. And C, bring into question the 'fakeness' that our civilizations have been living in. And no, it's not just women who are living a 'fake' life or more 'fakeness' than men are. That's not my stance on this. My stance is that it's ridiculous how many "things we need" to live a good life or better. Of course, that opens things up into a philosophical debate of what 'is needed,' but I have yet to find another species that needs a variety of tens/hundreds of thousands of things to work out, to live a good life on this planet. (And that's another thing, we're not the only species on this planet. So what gives us the right to generate and 'dispose' of these toxic products, byproducts, etc.?)

This is just a starting point for discussion.

I'd like to hear from you @mathemachristian@lemmy.blahaj.zone about the topic at hand. But first, why do you think I'm a misogynist?

[–] Frigidlollipop@lemmy.world 15 points 3 weeks ago

I am not the person you responded to. I just wanted to say that I stopped and thought, "wow, that stuff probably DOESNT decompose, huh?" as I scrolled. Thoughts of misogyny or wondering how old the poster must have been never crossed my mind, so I was surprised to see some of these comments. I guess it's nice it's such a talking point.

Im glad you posted a detailed response on why you posted it either way, just in case anyone else was curious.

[–] pika@feddit.nl 11 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I don't think you're a misogynist, but I think the picture can certainly come off that way. Here are a few reasons why:

  1. It's misrepresentative. Silicone lip implants are not common and obviously never that big. No woman has these; it's an exaggeration that has the effect of equating women with something ridiculous that doesn't exist. (The common injectable lip fillers are temporary and don't remain long after death.)

  2. No one else gets to decide for someone else what makes any procedure -- and in this case breast augmentation -- valid vs fake. Breast cancer survivors, trans people, and other patients getting reconstruction to live happy full lives would rightfully have something to say if you are implying that part of them is fake.

We all alter our bodies in all kinds of ways, both temporary and permanent, in an attempt to look and feel better about ourselves.

  1. The picture focuses only on depicting a woman, even though men get calf implants, veneers, nose jobs, chin implants, etc. The image isn't being fair or insightful, but it is ridiculing and criticizing women who are different in certain ways; these are ways that men are different too, making the message hypocritical.

I appreciate the respectful nature of the discussion and hope it continues.

[–] mathemachristian@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

So first off it targets women getting cosmetic surgery and not really men getting them, since societally one is more accepted than the other. (Hair transplant vs boob job). The societal pressure to look a certain ideal is much higher on women than on men, and the ridicule women receive for surgeries done is disproportionally higher. So simply hiding behind "I meant all people not just women" when you very explicitly made fun of a (fictional) woman getting cosmetic surgery is just retrofitting a defense.

Secondly, presenting it as a generational thing presents it as just that, not as a wealth inequality thing.

Thirdly, body modifications (tattoos, piercings and surgeries) should not be ridiculed or shamed. They are part of how someone chooses to present themselves to the world and everyone should be free to do that just how they want. It doesn't matter how misguided you think it might be, not your body not your say. This ties neatly into fighting the transphobic idea that "any surgery will look fake and trans women can always be 'clocked'".

I wrote more about the misogyny reinforced by "haha plastic surgery is for dumb bimbos" here: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/comment/15796191

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I actualy did not know women get made fun of for hair transplants. I am actually sorry for anyone who has to go through that double standard.

Tho for plastic surgery side there are "muscle inplants" and other eqivalents. And guys who get that are really not getting away from criticism lol.

[–] mathemachristian@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I didn't mean that women get made fun of for getting hair transplants, I was trying to illustrate how one is a much more common trope than the other.

I'm not sure what the rest of your comment is meant to address. If it is merely to inform me that men also get made fun for plastic surgery, then don't worry I'm aware which is why I used phrases like

The societal pressure to look a certain ideal is much higher on women than on men

and

the ridicule women receive for surgeries done is disproportionally higher

Note that the "higher" keyword explicitly acknowledges that it exists for men as well.

If it is meant to say that jokes about people getting plastic surgery being dumb are fine since they target men too then see the rest of my comment. Plus that they don't target men as much as they do women. Making fun of the "dolled up bimbo" is a much more common trope than of men.

[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah but the specific joke here wouldn't work so well with hair transplants. Pretty sure they'll decompose with the rest of the body right?

[–] mathemachristian@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I dont think I understand your point? Or what you are trying to say, like no archaeologists wouldn't find hair transplants like that and therefore...?

Edit: and i think even if inaccurate it would work just as well as a "joke", note all the impossibilities in the current picture. Her nails, how she's holding her phone, the breast implants at the exact location and so on

[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Just that I think you guys are reading too much into it. I'm pretty sure the joke doesnt need to go much further than "imagine digging that up on a history dig"

[–] mathemachristian@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

and what is "that" if not a sexist caricature of a woman?

[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago

I think we both might need to learn to pick our battles lol

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

but I have yet to find another species that needs a variety of tens/hundreds of thousands of things to work out, to live a good life on this planet.

Then again, we are a bald ape (that almost died out) living outside their environment, needing clothes and housing to protect from the elements. Which then led to cities and agriculture. The rest is just convenience.