I especially appreciated your thoughts on valuing the pragmatically useful above the beautiful, especially in regards to our journey as feminists. I related to that as well. Feminism did lead me to reject some ideas of beauty, especially beauty standards for my own body that didn't really arise from me or from nature, but too often it seemed like there were rigid ideas about what feminists weren't supposed to do that replaced them--like, you don't have to shave your legs or underarms, but you also get questioned if you do. It can be quite a challenge to get to what one actually wants.
But beyond our own bodies, yes, I believe the "merely" beautiful is important, and feeds us.
I especially appreciated your thoughts on valuing the pragmatically useful above the beautiful, especially in regards to our journey as feminists. I related to that as well. Feminism did lead me to reject some ideas of beauty, especially beauty standards for my own body that didn't really arise from me or from nature, but too often it seemed like there were rigid ideas about what feminists weren't supposed to do that replaced them--like, you don't have to shave your legs or underarms, but you also get questioned if you do. It can be quite a challenge to get to what one actually wants.
But beyond our own bodies, yes, I believe the "merely" beautiful is important, and feeds us.
I adore her work! Off to listen.