and if you interrogate where that insecurity has its roots, you will often find the answer is a society that constantly subjects women to judgement for their appearance, be that negative or positive judgement. it is simply the experience of being judged. botox, ozempic, plastic surgery, etc all becomes gender affirming care when you are femme in a society that requires femme identifying people to perform the role of disireable sexual object
the original post asks why. the original post also is why
and men have their own experiences with oppositional gaze, too, so we are clear. if you’ve ever heard the phrase “low t” applied to a man in his 30s or later, you have witnessed it
REGROW YOUR HAIR. WORK YOUR MUSCLES LIKE YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE 17 EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE 40. EAT STEAK. YOUR VALUE AS A MASCULINE MALE IS TO PERFORM AGGRESSION, NOT IN YOUR ABILITY TO GROW OUT OF THAT BEHAVIOR