Handsome

Can a woman be truly described as ‘handsome’ ? This was a question I debated with a barista over the weekend after describing a recent passenger from Columbia. She was feminine but not 'cute or pretty or sexy' I explained. More so classical looking, with a confident disposition. "A sort of impressive, robust beauty, handsome like."

However the barista, a young Argentinian, wouldn’t buy the description. "No way, it’s a masculine word," she huffed, with a dismissive flourish of the hand indicating the subject was settled. However, Google confirms the term was once quite common,

She was a handsome woman of forty-five and would remain so for many years.
J. B. Priestley

On Saturday evening I carried another handsome passenger from Columbia, a woman around forty years old. She was going home disappointed after attending a performance event featuring lesbian dance. Performance art can be dodgy propositions at the best of times.

The event had been billed as ‘chic’ French cabaret style. Instead it was ‘nightclub style’ with pumping dance music and a young crowd, casually dressed. Despite a ‘very sexual, very artistic’ performance, she felt totally overdressed and unprepared for the event.

At this point I became confused, not being conversant on authentic French cabaret. Exasperated at my ignorance, she demanded in a heavy accent, "Well, what do you understand ‘shick’ to mean ?" Who cares, I thought, lesbian dance is lesbian dance.

Beforehand she had rung the organisers to ask, "Is it the sort of event I would feel comfortable coming alone ?" Of course they said yes, what else would they say. But my passenger found a crowd of predominately gay couples and friends.

"Back home, I always went alone to theatre or café concerts," she moaned, "but here in Australia it’s not the same. People don’t accept you, they’re not warm to single people."

The perils of singles looking for entertainment. What did she expect patronizing venues without pool tables or dart boards ? Everybody knows it’s the only way to meet people. Welcome to Australia, handsome.

Comments

[Anthony]

Yes, women can definitely be described as handsome. Just not enough of them, unfortunately...

[kalesco]

hi! I always thought (as a not-native speaker) that handsome only described men. I would describe a 'handsome' woman as attractive. Or would that mean something completely different? *confused*

[kalesco]

uhm, why does it say 4 comments, when there are only two?

[adrian]

Kalesco, as mentioned 'handsome woman' was once commonly used and only had a positive connotation.

The original comment was some weird biblical spam which I deleted and the tally counter was slow to adjust.