For one, it raises self-confidence. i personally know that when my skins clearer and hair is sitting right i feel in a happy mood, and vise versa.

It is indeed an interesting question. I don't think the answer is simple enough to be answered with only one reason. I believe that the want to look pretty for several reasons (most girls aren't even aware of some of the reasons).

-Well you have the typical reason which is to grab attention from the opposite sex. Whether they're targeting one specific guy or just "showin' off" most girls realize the influence they can cause in a guy with their looks. Feeling wanted, desired, popular or special, they hunt for attention and by being physically attractive they get a certain level of satisfaction.

-Unfortunately this reason is very sad. We live a very superficial society. A society where money and looks are everything. A person who is physically appealing gets more attention and even respect (unless they look slutty 😛 ). Most high paid jobs require women who take care of their image carefully.

And some other reasons but these 2 are the most important. IMO.

I'd rather know why some girls use so much makeup that it makes them look like a front-man of a black metal band...

Onna no ichiban no keshou wa egao

Quote from nanpa

Quote from chibinekomata

Because we live in a society where girls who aren't deemed 'pretty' barely get anywhere unless they're very skilled or lucky. /: Sad truth.

this.

Ditto this.

Quote from pumpupthevolume

guys dont usually give girls they dont know any attention unless they look pretty...its sad but true

Quite true, who wants to be left on the shelf? Attracting boys isn't just for the sake of the attraction. It's every girl's dream to be married and have kids.

Alright, I profess I don't even understand the one-night-stand-type of my own gender who feel the need to attract every boy that walks their way, but yeah, whatever.

I like dressing up for myself. Seriously. Makeup, clothes, what have you -- they're all a way of expressing myself. When I'm applying makeup, I feel like I'm an artist -- only the canvas is my skin. I like making beautiful things. shrugs

It's got nothing to do with guys. Of course, I do hope guys think I'm pretty, but I don't think that's quite the same thing. I don't try to be pretty for their sake. rolls eyes

Yeah. I just... really like beautiful things, whimsy, romance, whatever. I like feeling pretty for myself. It makes me feel good.

"Without you, today's emotions would be the scurf of yesterday's."

because it makes us feel good...? i guess? at least me.... like when u look at really pretty figurines or decorated cake and you go "ooh! so cute~~" personally, i just looking 'pretty' now and then since it takes some effort- most of the time i go with the "i just grabbed the first thing out of my closet and have no actual hairstyle" look

When I hear people say that I'm pretty when I walk past them or talk to them, it gives me more confidence. But it isn't that I wear a lot of make-up, just the basics to accentuate my eyes and lips. And the rest I kinda wear what I want, depends on my mood. Don't feel the need to spend hours before the mirror every morning trying to look like a model. I just want to have the feeling that I look beautiful for myself and that gives me confidence.

So tell me, what's it like living in a constant haze of stupidity?

Quote from RhinoX753

I'd rather know why some girls use so much makeup that it makes them look like a front-man of a black metal band...

Because they want to become a front-woman of a black metal band maybe?

I used to want to sing in a rock band (not black metal though). Not anymore but I still try to style myself as if I were someone in a rock band (I do know that it will not be liked by everybody around me). It's a way of self-expressing or taste, I guess.

I agreed with someone above that what is pretty is really subjective. I rarely wear a dress and don't think all girls have to be in them to be pretty. It's just a matter of taste. I don't think we need to analyze too much into it or you'll get lost. For example, I think most American male celebrities are ugly but a lot of girls (and guys) seem to go nuts at them. Whatever. 😐

Twiggy was defnitely considered pretty at least by some and an icon of the '60s. However, I am sure most guys I know would think she was too skinny, too pale and not feminine/sexy. To those guys she's not pretty at all while there are women who would die to look like her. Surprising?

Guys are judged by their looks too. It's not just girls. And different ideas/cultures about beauty also apply to guys. I personally think the most important and attractive aspect about both sexes is that they really pay attention, make efforts and take care of their looks. And believe me manners, tastes and personal hygiene are part of the package of looks too. So judging people by looks and caring about looks can actually be a positive thing. However a lot of people might not share my view.

Simply because in our patriarchal society, women were originally viewed as property, and were only of value if they possessed beauty/youth--as the two were intricately linked. This notion of worth in aesthetics has been ingrained in society so completely that it survives even today. When someone replies, "I do it because it makes me happy" or "I want to look pretty so....[insert reason here]" the underlying reason remains that her self-worth or the value others sees in her is ascertained through her looks.

Personally, I normally wear minimal make-up (current photo excluded). Though I do enjoy messing around with make-up. It can be legitimized as a form of self-expression as well.

And of course we can't forget that there are different ideas of beauty/pretty. What is pretty for one person or culture may not necessarily be so for another.

girls want to be pretty so that boys will like them lol. its really that simple, i think. most girls don't get all self conscious about their looks in a group of girls, unless there's a boy there who's going to be comparing them. looks are a survival tool for women. not to sound like the most backwards feminist ever but it's true. women used looks and sex to survive before the marriage institution and the feminist movement. marriage i suppose is basically about a man preserving a woman for his own sexual needs + other tasks a man would not have time for in less modern societies. so i guess marriage is also a medium for women to survive through their looks/sexuality.

i did not read many other posts btw, so i'm probably restating ideas, but yeah there's my 2 cents on why i and all my little friends are so desperate to be purdyful.

Quote from ladyviollet

girls want to be pretty so that boys will like them lol. its really that simple, i think. most girls don't get all self conscious about their looks in a group of girls, unless there's a boy there who's going to be comparing them. looks are a survival tool for women. not to sound like the most backwards feminist ever but it's true. women used looks and sex to survive before the marriage institution and the feminist movement. marriage i suppose is basically about a man preserving a woman for his own sexual needs + other tasks a man would not have time for in less modern societies. so i guess marriage is also a medium for women to survive through their looks/sexuality.

i did not read many other posts btw, so i'm probably restating ideas, but yeah there's my 2 cents on why i and all my little friends are so desperate to be purdyful.

great, so you,ve figured that out for yourself, now i have the question why do you still want to be pretty?
i mean chances are that you don,t need a man to protect you from the evil,evil wolfs anymore, you can get a job on your own so you don,t need anyone to provide for you..all in all you should be able to survive on your own ?! yet you still feel the need to be pretty...mysterious

great, so you,ve figured that out for yourself, now i have the question why do you still want to be pretty?
i mean chances are that you don,t need a man to protect you from the evil,evil wolfs anymore, you can get a job on your own so you don,t need anyone to provide for you..all in all you should be able to survive on your own ?! yet you still feel the need to be pretty...mysterious

pretty girls get sex, protection, and chilvarous treatment. that was my point, didn't really execute it well lol. sorry. that's why i like being pretty at least.

Um well... for me personally, I would want to be pretty because the more aesthetically pleasing someone is on the outside, the better they're treated. Certainly there is also the self-esteem factor but let's face it, prettier people get nicer treatment. This doesn't also go for girls but also for guys but the need isn't so apparent since society is more concentrated on female beauty.

I disagree that pretty girls get protection, the biggest hassle about being a pretty girl is creepy men sexually harassing you.

sex sex sex sex sex xD

but seriously, thats my reason 😀

Wonders How To Post A Picture

well, for me. I think 'fashion' and 'make-up' and the such are like art. It's like painting myself up and using my artistic taste. It's just fun and it's also nice to get compliments from others. It may seem silly but being pretty just feels nice 🙂