Womanly Burdens

Being a woman is a tough job. And not just tough - an expensive job. Men have no idea the lengths we females go to in order to look pretty, smooth, polished, tanned ... it's a never ending battle against nature.

I was contemplating this little tidbit as I went through the 3 1/2 hour process of getting my hair done yesterday. While I suppose I could stick with the mousy, dark blondish brown that is my natural hair color - I don't. Blonde highlights add a whole new dimension to my color. But it's an arduous process, for both me and my stylist. Most men, on the other hand, visit the hairdresser for a 1,2,3 buzz cut or trim, never knowing the pains of 6-week interval color treatments.

And hair is just one item in the endless list of female maintenance. There's tanning (or spray tanning - color is key); manicures and pedicures; purchasing quality makeup, skincare and hair care products (which can send you to the poorhouse on their own); gym memberships; waxing, shaving and tweezing; not to mention diet & health purchases for women who struggle with weight or body issues. Even for lower maintenance women who pick and choose their beauty routines, it's still a financial burden.

And what do men endure but an occasional haircut, daily shaving (if they so choose) and MAYBE some body hair removal as they age and stray growth begins to occur.

Granted, metro sexual men are another story altogether, but they're still rare - and their primping is by choice. For women it's far more of a necessity. And I didn't even get into the fact that women have to carry the children, endure the pain of labor, bear the brunt of most housework, etc., etc. It isn't just beauty duties!

So what's the bottom line? It ain't easy being one of the fairer sex. So, given all the expenses and hard work that goes into female maintenance, shouldn't we make MORE money, not less than our male counterparts? Maybe we should circulate a petition ...

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