In a society that claims to pride itself in female empowerment, why does physical appearance still carry such an outsized weight for women? Take a look at Bella Ramsey from “The Last of Us,” who has faced massive amounts of harassment and bullying because fans think she doesn’t look as attractive as the character she’s supposed to play, Ellie, from the original video game.
While fans praise Ramsey’s co-star Pedro Pascal for his looks, Ramsey gets scrutinized for her physical appearance. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Ramsey revealed that the bullying was so harsh the actress had to step back from social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit. All of this hate is just because she doesn’t look like the computer-generated video game version of the character she plays.
Why is it that the worst thing a woman can be in this day and age is ugly? In a world where women are theoretically encouraged to “be themselves,” there is still an unspoken rule that their worth is measured first and foremost by their attractiveness. Being talented, intelligent, kind and generous is less important when a woman doesn’t fit into a beauty standard.
Bella Ramsey’s experience is hardly something new. Time and time again, actresses, athletes, politicians and even everyday women face an exhausting double standard. Men are allowed to age, to have flaws, to embody a character without a second thought to their physicality. Women, on the other hand, are expected to be effortlessly perfect and punished harshly when they aren’t. And it’s so maddening because women end up being insecure about their appearances and end up getting botox and fillers, only for the men to turn around then and say, “We actually prefer natural women.”
This obsession with women’s appearances not only perpetuates unrealistic expectations but also reinforces the toxic idea that a woman’s value lies in how well she can be consumed visually. It’s not just about Bella Ramsey or any one actress; it’s about what we demand of women in general. It’s about what we’re teaching young girls when we tear down someone who is immensely talented simply because she doesn’t fit a narrow definition of “pretty.”
If female empowerment is truly the goal, then it’s time to start appreciating women for who they are and what they do, not just how they look doing it.
