Phenomenon: As a Philosophy, an object of perception: something perceived or experienced, especially an object as it is apprehended by the human senses as opposed to an object as it intrinsically is in itself .*
Age is a phenomenon, one that at times takes on a different interpretation, don’t you think? I mean, sometimes I can catch a glimpse of my reflection and think, hmm… mighty fine looking for my age (54). And again, first glimpse of the morning, bathroom mirror - ugh; when did I turn into my mother (at 54)?
My least favorite place to espy my own reflection is in a department store fitting room. What do they do to those mirrors?! There is no reasonable explanation other than my theory that an evil covert of angry women has somehow infiltrated all public mirrors, in Wizard of Oz fashion, controlling who gets to see what when trying on clothes. It has to be! How else is it that I can get out of my morning shower, drop the towel and think, “great day to go shopping,” to, “how did my thighs each grow three inches in the 20 minute drive to the mall?”
Ladies, consider the question finally asked: Who is Sara Blakely, and how did she get Oprah to convince us to squeeze our assets into her fashionable haute contours? Hello?! I’m talking about Spanx . Seriously, Google Spanx and take a look at the gorgeous, slender woman who in 1998 invented footless pantyhose because she one day wanted to be flawless. And look at the models wearing Spanx products. “Oooh… I don’t want to be a size 4. I’m so fat!”
Spanx involvement in this mirror conspiracy is just one of my theories. If you think about it long enough -- just pick up any fashion magazine -- you will begin to see whence I come. After all, didn’t it really start with Playtex “Cross-Your-Heart” bras, or even earlier yet. Did you know that in 1957, Howard Hughes designed a seamless, push-up bra for Jane Russell to wear under her tight silk blouse in “The Outlaw?” Boing!!
Okay, now the picture is focusing… I knew a man must have started this entire movement of how a woman should look, and why we feel rotten when we stand in front of a bad fitting room mirror.
Regardless, the movement to make women feel unattractive is grounded. But is it really a gender issue? Did you know that men invented make up for themselves? Here’s another good question I found when doing my “Google” research, for what it’s worth: Why did God invent men, which leads to the one true question: Is God a man or a woman?
If God is a man, and man invented make up for themselves, and then re-figuring undergarments for women who stand in front of the mirror and say, “Yuk,“ I might be able to accept that… but if God is a woman, and so on, then what up, girl?! Set your sisters free!
