Skip to content

Being a woman is worse than being a farmer there is so…

“Being a woman is worse than being a farmer there is so much harvesting and crop spraying to be done: legs to be waxed, underarms shaved, eyebrows plucked, feet pumiced, skin exfoliated and moisturised, spots cleansed, roots dyed, eyelashes tinted, nails filed, cellulite massaged, stomach muscles…” quote by Helen Fielding
Download Open image
““Being a woman is worse than being a farmer there is so much harvesting and crop spraying to be done: legs to be waxed, underarms shaved, eyebrows plucked, feet pumiced, skin exfoliated and moisturised, spots cleansed, roots dyed, eyelashes tinted, nails filed, cellulite massaged, stomach muscles exercised. The whole performance is so highly tuned you only need to neglect it for a few days for the whole thing to go to seed. Sometimes I wonder what I would be like if left to revert to nature — with a full beard and handlebar moustache on each shin Dennis Healey eyebrows face a graveyard of dead skin cells spots erupting long curly fingernails like Struwelpeter blind as bat and stupid runt of species as no contact lenses flabby body flobbering around. Ugh ugh. Is it any wonder girls have no confidence?””

Helen Fielding

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote satirically highlights the relentless societal pressure on women to maintain an idealized appearance, comparing it to exhausting farm work and suggesting it erodes confidence.

In simple terms: Women face constant beauty expectations that drain confidence.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and challenge unrealistic beauty standards.

Themes

beauty standards gender pressure self-esteem societal expectations body image

Mood

frustrated ironic critical

Type

satirical observational commentary

When to use this quote

  • daily grooming routines
  • media influence
  • workplace appearance policies
  • social media self-presentation
  • personal self‑care

Key Concepts

feminist critique social commentary psychological stress

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do beauty standards affect your self‑worth?
  • What steps can reduce pressure to conform?
A Different Perspective

The humor may downplay genuine struggles and overlook diverse experiences of women.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Helen Fielding

Explore all 158 Helen Fielding quotes

More Contact lenses quotes

Browse all 58 Contact lenses quotes