I’ll have to disagree with you, for a couple of reasons. First, because of the societal emphasis on looks and appearance, especially for women, there’s a lot more benefits to being attractive than “being able to get a man.” (And there are many more things important than that, too.) Like, say, a promotion.

As I said in my piece, I did discover my confidence through burlesque. In that sense, focusing on my appearance is hardly frivolous or superficial, and I would argue that channeling my confidence into the physical realm through performance is a cathartic act that improves my quality of life. Beauty is a double-edged sword — it’s something we can construct that can both benefit us and make us miserable.