Rethinking Men

What masculinity means in the 21st century.

by Anthony Synnott, Ph.D.

What Is Ugly? Part 2

By Anthony Synnott, Ph.D. on July 7, 2009 in Rethinking Men

Dede Koswara is known as "The Tree Man." He is an Indonesian villager who is covered in warts from head to toe and has recently undergone his ninth operation to remove them. His condition is thought to be the result of HPV and a rare genetic anomaly. Normal life is impossible for him, both physically and socially. (Le Journal de Montreal 13.2.09). Read More

Do your really find Susan

Submitted by LB on July 7, 2009 - 12:44pm.

Do your really find Susan Boyle to be 'ugly'? That surprises me. It seems to me she looks a lot like many, many women I see in the grocery store or the cafés in town. You must live in an area where plastic surgeons do good business or, perhaps, you yourself have been influenced by TV and the popular press more than you realize. (I don't know who Connie Culp is so I can't comment.)

I do agree that from the commercials I've seen for Ugly Betty (I've not actually seen the show) the presumption is that 'ugly' means that a woman isn't keeping up-to-date with the current fashion and doesn't wear the 'right' shoes, etc.

All the best.

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If Susan Boyle isn't ugly, I

Submitted by Anonymous on October 12, 2011 - 1:20pm.

If Susan Boyle isn't ugly, I can't imagine who would be. People with facial deformities?

Come the fuck on.

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I believe you meant Joseph

Submitted by Anonymous on August 28, 2009 - 12:35pm.

I believe you meant Joseph Merrick. I always thought of Susan Boyle as Grandmotherly, ugly seems a very harsh judgemental qualification of sexual attractiveness.