What We're Attracted To
Are looks more important in big cities?
I just read this article today on MSNBC's site that talks about how looks are more important to women who live in the big city....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34433979/ns/health-skin_and_beauty/
I wanted to see what everyone thought about this. If you read the article they make arguments as to why this is the case. One of the reasons stated is that there are so many people in big cities, the competition level rises amongst individuals and looks becomes one of the biggest factors in differentiation.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Don't care?
Avtomat205 days ago
Answer 1 of 2
I'm going to have to agree with BritishG...
I'm going to have to agree with BritishGuy; in any city you're going to come across thousands of people, so it only makes sense that those who stand out get more attention. It's just part of the social dynamic of urban life. This is also why you see so many different "scenes" and styles in urban areas, as there's a greater desire to stand out and be noticed in the crowd, something not necessary in smaller communities where most people already know you. (I for one like the ability to blend in and go about my business as I like, but that's me.)
The article did, however mention another factor in terms of possible causes: practicality. In rural settings you're more likely to be working outdoors and with your hands, getting sweaty and dirty than you are in the city. Spending half an hour in front of the mirror trying to get it right makes no sense, since nobody cares how you look when you're driving a tractor or shooting coyotes or something. (Pictures of women in low-cut tops holding guns just give me painful images of them losing hot brass in their bras.) The same thing goes for body size, since a runway-model-sized woman (or man, for that matter) is unlikely to be of much help on a farm.
I won't touch on the "limited selection" available in rural areas (*banjo music*), except to say that in many cases young people tend not to stick around long anyway and move out once they graduate high school and only move back later in life, if ever, so I'm not sure how much that factors in.
I'd also like to see some info on how true this is between cities and countries as well. Seems reasonable to think that the results would be different between New York and, say, Phoenix. Or between those and maybe London, Berlin, Milan, etc.
I have to wonder, though, how much the emphasis on appearance has to do with the availability of higher-end clothing and accessories, which simply aren't in easy reach in rural areas. (Or even medium sized cities; mine has 1 million people and I still have to go to Montréal or New York to get decently-fitting shirts.)
Okay, enough text today.
Post Comment
Report this
Report this
BritishGuy226 days ago
Answer 2 of 2
I don't think there is much of a debate ...
I don't think there is much of a debate to be had here it's only natural that when you have a wider variety of faces to pick between you pick something better.
If you are surrounded by a billion posh restaurants you eat where you want to eat. If your starving any trash can will do.
People compete to look better too amonst their peers.
I think the life in a city can be competitive and fast paced which I love but sometimes you have to wind back and go enjoy yourself.
