I remember I used to see old women hobbling around near my grandparents' house when I was a little kid in the 1960s. They seemed ancient, and they probably were but when you're 8 or 10 you think any adult looks geriatric.<p>My dad explained what was wrong and I was horrified but my sister was fascinated. This has bothered me my whole life.
If you wonder what metrics comprise the value of a woman today (surely we have improved since the days of the lotus feet!), a thought experiment: Imagine walking into a museum and seeing a large, stately portrait of a well-dressed man, of an older age. What are the first things you notice about the man as you observe the painting?<p>Really think about the kinds of questions you're asking yourself as you're looking at this painting.<p>Now, imagine seeing a large, stately portrait of a well-dressed woman, around the same older age.
What do you notice first about her?<p>---
---<p>For me, the answers are:
Man:
Posture (confident? not?), eyes, watch, spectacles (was he a professor? scientist? businessman?) What did he <i>do</i> to deserve a painting?<p>Woman:
Dress, beauty (or lack thereof - is she beautiful? wrinkled? old?), hair. Who was she [<i>related to</i>] to deserve a painting?<p>---<p>Did you ask yourself what the woman might have liked to do?