I wish I could turn this post into a pair of glasses to give to everyone to look at almost Any content on social media. For any hobby or interest I have, I am discovering a cottage industry to sell products or services or webinars to in the frame of "self improvement" or health or wellness, in which only people with privileged free time or thousands of dollars can get into
As someone with a chronic autoimmune disease, I cannot imagine optionally having so many doctors. Coordinating appointments alone could be a hearty, part-time job.
I think the NYTimes is also, as Mallory said of the Cut " is a plastic surgery normalization psyop." But I never put that together until I read this article!! Thanks Katie, every article about wildly expensive aesthetic interventions needs to be placed within the context of a large portion of the country's population losing health insurance.
“A campy rendering of inequality where a minuscule fraction of people have too much money and time and must invent new needs”, this is the luxury essay nobody wanted to write plainly. The looksmaxxing bible as the logical endpoint of aspirational culture eating itself.
So much beauty discourse still talks as if everyone is participating in the same game, just with different levels of insecurity. But the women spending thousands on routines are playing a completely different sport. Their maintenance is less about looking presentable and more about turning the body into a visible receipt of surplus income. Brilliant writing!!
Two notes about this missive - (1) Thanks for the resource of https://inthesetimes.com/ as a news source, and (2) Who else wants Katie to record an audio version of each of these with minimal to no edits for the dopamine hit of hearing her voice from years of listening to the podcast? ❤️🙏😁
Research Call Out: Looking for UK-Based Gen Z Men for Master's Dissertation Research
I'm currently completing my Master's dissertation and am looking to speak with 3 Gen Z men (aged 18–29) based in the UK for an online interview.
My research explores looksmaxxing culture and the communities that have formed around it, with the aim of better understanding how young men engage with appearance, self-improvement, beauty standards, and online identity formation.
To be eligible, you should:
Be a Gen Z male (18–29)
Be actively involved in the looksmaxxing community (or closely engage with its content)
Have friends or social connections who are also involved in the community
This research is coming from a place of curiosity and understanding. One of the questions that inspired the project is the contrast between the beauty and self-improvement industries available to women, and the alternative, often DIY and online-driven approaches that have emerged for men.
What I'm researching:
How people become involved in looksmaxxing communities
The role of friendship groups and online networks
Ideas around attractiveness, self-improvement, and masculinity
The influence of social media and digital culture
Personal experiences, motivations, and perspectives within the community
What participation involves:
A confidential online interview (approximately 45–60 minutes)
A relaxed, semi-structured conversation about your experiences and views
There are no right or wrong answers, and I'm interested in hearing a wide range of perspectives. Participants do not need to agree with everything associated with the community, and all viewpoints are welcome, including those that may be considered controversial.
All participation is voluntary and anonymous. The research is for academic purposes only, and all data will be securely stored and deleted following completion of the project.
If you're interested in taking part or would like more information, please send me a private message and I'll be happy to answer any questions and share the participant information sheet and consent details.
“…I think The Cut is a plastic surgery normalization psyop.” SAME! Also a casual GLP-1 use psyop. So many weird articles about these topics over there lately.
New Shark Tank pitch: opening a medspa in LA where the cost of each Botox injection subsidizes a Pap smear for an under-insured individual
I could be wrong but due to the Big Beautiful Bill cuts to Plan Parenthood (PP), PP is thinking about offering botox and the likes
I wish I could turn this post into a pair of glasses to give to everyone to look at almost Any content on social media. For any hobby or interest I have, I am discovering a cottage industry to sell products or services or webinars to in the frame of "self improvement" or health or wellness, in which only people with privileged free time or thousands of dollars can get into
As someone with a chronic autoimmune disease, I cannot imagine optionally having so many doctors. Coordinating appointments alone could be a hearty, part-time job.
I think the NYTimes is also, as Mallory said of the Cut " is a plastic surgery normalization psyop." But I never put that together until I read this article!! Thanks Katie, every article about wildly expensive aesthetic interventions needs to be placed within the context of a large portion of the country's population losing health insurance.
“A campy rendering of inequality where a minuscule fraction of people have too much money and time and must invent new needs”, this is the luxury essay nobody wanted to write plainly. The looksmaxxing bible as the logical endpoint of aspirational culture eating itself.
Jamie Ding fans rise up 🙏🏼✨
Okay but Katie, I now desperately want you to explain i.e. Your thoughts on All In Pod. You left too much suspense.
So much beauty discourse still talks as if everyone is participating in the same game, just with different levels of insecurity. But the women spending thousands on routines are playing a completely different sport. Their maintenance is less about looking presentable and more about turning the body into a visible receipt of surplus income. Brilliant writing!!
This reminds me of the movie: Repo: the genetic opera, which features a guest appearance from Paris Hilton.
It’s giving hunger games
That Current Affairs article should be required reading.
you speak the truth Katie!!!
Today’s daily reminder that Reagan ruined everything
Two notes about this missive - (1) Thanks for the resource of https://inthesetimes.com/ as a news source, and (2) Who else wants Katie to record an audio version of each of these with minimal to no edits for the dopamine hit of hearing her voice from years of listening to the podcast? ❤️🙏😁
Research Call Out: Looking for UK-Based Gen Z Men for Master's Dissertation Research
I'm currently completing my Master's dissertation and am looking to speak with 3 Gen Z men (aged 18–29) based in the UK for an online interview.
My research explores looksmaxxing culture and the communities that have formed around it, with the aim of better understanding how young men engage with appearance, self-improvement, beauty standards, and online identity formation.
To be eligible, you should:
Be a Gen Z male (18–29)
Be actively involved in the looksmaxxing community (or closely engage with its content)
Have friends or social connections who are also involved in the community
This research is coming from a place of curiosity and understanding. One of the questions that inspired the project is the contrast between the beauty and self-improvement industries available to women, and the alternative, often DIY and online-driven approaches that have emerged for men.
What I'm researching:
How people become involved in looksmaxxing communities
The role of friendship groups and online networks
Ideas around attractiveness, self-improvement, and masculinity
The influence of social media and digital culture
Personal experiences, motivations, and perspectives within the community
What participation involves:
A confidential online interview (approximately 45–60 minutes)
A relaxed, semi-structured conversation about your experiences and views
There are no right or wrong answers, and I'm interested in hearing a wide range of perspectives. Participants do not need to agree with everything associated with the community, and all viewpoints are welcome, including those that may be considered controversial.
All participation is voluntary and anonymous. The research is for academic purposes only, and all data will be securely stored and deleted following completion of the project.
If you're interested in taking part or would like more information, please send me a private message and I'll be happy to answer any questions and share the participant information sheet and consent details.
“…I think The Cut is a plastic surgery normalization psyop.” SAME! Also a casual GLP-1 use psyop. So many weird articles about these topics over there lately.