One of our readers sent in a Valentine’s Day card that came in a box of cards her 10-year-old received. The card reinforces the idea that pretty girls are high-maintenance; they’re materialistic and, implicitly, demanding or difficult — which they presumably get away with in exchange for being attractive:
For another example of cultural assumptions about pretty girls, and the idea that they play by a different set of rules, see our post on the “I’m too pretty to do math” magnet or t-shirt.
Comments 17
ravencomeslaughing — February 14, 2012
rather obvious pretty can only mean white, tall, skinny, and blond to this card designer, too. FAIL.
Anna — February 14, 2012
It may be interesting to note that the card depicts the character of Sharpay Evans in the film series High School Musical. Sharpay is the antagonist of the series, the "mean girl"; she is high-maintenance, materialistic (blatantly spoiled in fact) and difficult. The phrase in the card could clearly been one of Sharpay's own quotes in one of the films. Combined with her suitcases, it is also a wordplay on her wealth and materialism.
I've only seen the first film in the series, where Sharpay was obviously meant to be unsympathetic, so she does not "get away" with anything in exchange for being attractive, although she does have a very high opinion of her looks. If anything, the character's interactions among her peers in the movie is based on her sense of entitlement due to wealth, and her manipulation/bullying tactics based on this.
Still, I'm aware that character is the protagonist in an off-shoot movie of HSM, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure, where she is presumably more sympathetic, and where these qualities of being pretty "permit" a different set of rules may come into play.
Jo McKenzie — February 14, 2012
Interesting point here is that being pretty is in itself high-maintenance: no-one gets it for nothing. Even if you do happen to be young, tall, long-legged, blonde and naturally skinny, there's still the issues with removing excess body hair, taking care of your clothes, maintaining perfect make-up, working around impractical shoes, and so on.
"Pretty", for those of us older than about 10, isn't just a gendered construct, it's entirely artificial. Therefore the card has a point: if I am adult and pretty then I spend a lot of time, energy and money on my appearance. By definition.
Pretty women aren't necessarily spoilt or selfish or cruel or frivolous, but they do come with the making-myself-beautiful baggage.
Ann — February 14, 2012
What does it mean when you take it completely out of context, without acknowledging the background of the character on the card? It means you're unreliable, make assumptions, and are treating your readers like empty headed women without a thought in their little brains. It means you think we are easily swayed and manipulated, and will take your spin at face value, because we're just simple minded sheep, good little girlies who will cheer you on even if you withhold reality from us. Brava.
Earnestinkling — February 14, 2012
I know some pretty girls who are non-materialistic, kind and extremely intelligent. In fact, I'm in love with a few of them.