Modern Corsets. Modern Masks.

Cosmetic surgery is women’s modern day corset. At the time when women weren’t allowed to vote, had no civil rights and their husbands made all decisions for them, women wore corsets. As if to make them constantly feel that they lived in shackles, they felt the fish bones holding up the corsets squeezing their ribcages. The fashion of the time favored a very small waist. No room for deep breaths or much food. Maids pulled the corsets tight, women fainted often. 

Today women’s faces don’t move anymore. Brows don’t lift, front’s don’t frown, noses don’t snarl. A stiff upper lip, literally. Am I the only one who finds that women on TV all look like Daisy Ducks with their lips stuck in an artificial purse and their eyes wide open as if in constant amazement or disbelief? Cosmetic surgery and every little nip-and-tuck leaves women without their natural, facial expression. In the 1950’s it used to be paramount for a woman to appear lady like or better with no expression. Raised to nod in consent without opinions, to be not too smart but smart enough, to be pleasant as wife and hostess. Then came the Women Lib’ (i.e. Liberation) in the 1970’s and women freed themselves to say and do whatever they wanted, to look wild and be free. But the freedom was short-lived, maybe for a decade or so, until women exchanged the flower-dress for the power-suit with big shoulder-pads, teased the hair and moved up corporate ladders. Even with new gained power and financial independence, women were still in the corset of acceptance in a male-dominated world and their rise hit a glass ceiling.

Societal guardians of the norm with all their media power were (and are) enforcing in unison what women should look and behave like and how powerful they should be. It is still frowned upon that a woman works while raising children or if she earns more money than her male partner. If she works she needs to be also a good mother, a good spouse, a house keeper, a hostess and do all of it seemly effortlessly. Plastic surgery seems a solution to look less tired, less worn out under this much pressure.

Men are also tortured by society. They have to be successful, smart, good looking, impressive, fixers and handy men. And they have to make a lot of money. Being good, loyal husbands and loving, kind fathers is secondary to being food providers and first-rate meal tickets.

The superficiality of western society is stifling self-confidence and self-expression for both sexes. If it is important to satisfy an expectation over one’s own needs, the self falls by the way side. We are buried under a clutter of stuff we procure to impress others and to show off our status. Like Ironmen and Ironwomen, we are small, yes, tiny within the uniform we have to put on to win in this society. Without the benefits of a superhero’s superpowers and not knowing how to fight this beast, we pass our fate onto our children making them into our Mini-Me’s (more on Mini-me’s here), forcing them to compete rather than learn, to win rather than understand, to pretend rather than feel.

So, we all put on corsets, uniforms and masks and hope this will shield us from the endlessly probing and judgmental eyes of others. We hope for some peace and quiet to be able to hear our own wishes and dreams. If we are very lucky, we are able to create a supportive voice in our heads to cheer us on the adventurous endeavor to find and live the life we want. A life beyond all masks.