(a repost from my almost extinct Multiply site)
Usually, I either ditch the costume ritual altogether or make Halloween an excuse to put piles of makeup on. We all know that most girls use Halloween as excuse to look hot (ahem, Mean Girls) but this year, I chose to look, well, not. My costume choice is the girl best known for being, to put it politely, physically flawed. This year, I will be Ugly Betty.
You may be wondering, why on earth would a single girl decide to look incredibly unattractive on a night when all the other girls will look incredibly attractive? Is it because of the need to seem extremely original and to blatantly express my individuality? Partially, yes. There are a number of different reasons why but the main reason is this: frankly, I just don't care.
I've always had difficulty competing with other girls for a guy's attention. Since majority of the male species' actions are based on their libido vs. their better judgment, it's not always easy to "get the guy". Watching too many movies sometimes gives me an optimistic picture of what the world is like, when in actuality, looks do matter. They matter to an extent that is more than anyone would like to admit. We live under the pretense that we care more about the inside then the out but everyone knows that the packaging is what convinces us to buy the product. It's ironic, but deep down inside, we're all superficial.
I'm not ugly. Neither is Betty. Granted, she's not exactly the epitome of beauty, but I find in her an admirable quality that makes her at the very least, likable. The problem is that she has physical flaws. So do I. So do a lot of other men and women. But in the world we live in, we have to be as close to the generally accepted standard of what is attractive - for example; light skin, long hair, tall nose, chiseled abs - to be considered so. Being as attractive as possible gives us a better chance to get exactly what we want; whether its the guy, the job, or any kind of special privileges. We've heard these stories many times, whether they be fact or fiction: Erika getting promoted because her boss had the hots for her; or Mark getting a paid vacation for flirting with the boss. It may be true, it may not. But it is definitely possible. We've all experienced or at least witnessed how prettier people can get more than the average person. Call it unfair, or just call it what it is: life.
To be honest, I'm not one of those people who protest this particular injustice. I'm not bothered if some people get more than others because of their wealth, connections or beauty. Don't get me wrong, I am all for equality. But as I said earlier, that's life and as much as we want to protest for change, the system will not budge unless people actually change. Besides, if you protest against prettier people getting more than what you have, then that could mean nothing else except: you're ugly. But I'm not saying I don't mind the injustice because I think I'm pretty. Again, my reason is that I just don't care.
The main problem of being ugly is the discrimination involved. If physical appearances did not affect our chances for certain experiences and/or opportunities, then being physically flawed should not matter. Ugly people will just be ugly for a fact, pretty people likewise, and that's all there will be to it. No bias, no discrimination and no one would have any reason to complain. But the tricky part is, it's in our nature to discriminate. It can't be helped. Some people may have the willpower to refrain from voicing out derogatory remarks, but it doesn't mean that their thoughts are not guilty of it. You just have to know when to keep your mouth shut.
Getting dolled up at times makes us feel good, doesn't it? It's amazing how one person's compliment can make (or break) another person's day. But looking good should not be the extent of a person's existence. After all, it's been said that time can fade away even the most exceptional of beauties.
It's funny that in the end we all turn out to be "ugly" anyway.
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