Judging the beauty judges.

“just one , I wish I'd been prettier”
was Eleanor Roosevelt's only regret in life
“any man with $42 million looks like Clark Gable”
was Don Kiln's comment on Mohamed Ali
Androgynous – an interesting word. Reflects today's women and parameters of good looks, since child bearing and famine fear are no more issue the curvaceous woman is out. Just look at the all American beauty icons, the post world war II America with massive population depletion had Marilyn Munroe as its icon in 1950, by 1960 when the need was overcome she was replaced by Jackie Kennedy to the Twiggy Ann of today.
A man's body was considered an instrument of power so they are less judged by appearances, in today's desked culture which is divorced off physical labour male muscles announces leisure discipline sexuality and fitness
but world wide women are being pushed into while ideals of beauty.
Though very very slowly the language of power is shifting causing a change in the parameter. Look at the afro hairstyles, rap, music or dressing.
Clothes and body ornamentation follow the same political fuels of male strength and female weakness.
Just in case we are looking at a free west-- women are put into restriction of fashion there too, see the insistence of demure frocks with buttons behind, stay neat and trim, gown clad women limping on spiked heels.
Look at the women news reader they are often much younger than their male counterparts after all with age comes authority, these beauty standards set by a youth worshiping media help to get rid of the women just as they are attaining real power.
When men are held to the youth worshiping standards they serve the same purpose as women yet women age while men mature!?!
sometimes I feel beauty is less about looks than behavior for women it is more about sex and reproduction for men it is more economic and productivity.
If the standard for women is the iron maiden or rather the plastic Barbie for a man it is the iron man. Powerful strong and handsome. A design men are vainly; trying to live up to. Men are discouraged from using higher octaves of voice, crying or smiling.
A smile in a man is seen is ingratiation and weakness.