poor women need not apply ...

I suppose that one of the wonderful things about NYC is the amount of material wealth floating around this city. I mean, I don't find it that great, but there are plenty of people who make it their sole mission in life to mass together vast amounts of wealth.

In this proud American tradition, the 'Sugar Mommas and Boy Toys Speed Date' has been set up by one enterprising company named Pocket Change. Male applicants are picked based solely on their appearance (photographs must be sent in), while women must be over 35, have a salary of over $500,000 and have assets worth at least four million. The logic behind this is that older women can pick up, wine, dine and get cozy with hot younger men.

The website proudly proclaims that it takes over where "Susan B. Anthony left off. The Fourth Wave of Feminism, Pocket Change be thy name!" This statement is followed by the cheerful announcement that it is "the women's turn."

I have several issues with this. I'm all for physical beauty (especially in males), but this website comes across as a tad ... shallow. YaknowwhatImean? Like. Really shallow.

And then there's the issue of this whole 'fourth wave of feminism' nonsense. When was there ever a real third wave? Even the 'second wave' feminist movement (which, arguably, was in the 60's), was kind of an off shoot of Civil Rights and everything else. Where is the third wave? And what the hell is a fourth wave?

Not to mention, citing this company as somehow feminist or on the brink of a new gynocentric movement is absurd. If anything, Pocket Change sets women back 25 years by turning their website into a wealthy woman's version of 'Hot or Not' with all the voting for the best looking applicants. It is a study in absurdity, not feminism.

Also ... it's the women's turn to do what? Collect attractive young men to parade around on their Versace and Gucci glad arms? Find someone to lavish their $500,000 annual salary on? Turn the tables and have older women pick up younger men?

I'm not exactly the world's great philosopher, but the morals behind this website disturb me. I know similar websites exist for 'Sugar Daddies' to find young, beautiful women (well, more like teenagers), and I have a problem with those too. Why? Because it boils down a relationship into two categories: 1) looking good and 2) having money or having money spent on you. It cheapens everything about romance, love, sex and friendship.

Which is fine, I guess. There are a lot of people who are really only after money and/or a good looking partner. I'm not going to rain on anyone's parade if that's what they're after. But geez, people. Don't start patting yourself on the back for being 'feminist' or whatever. That's total bull.

You can see the 'Top Female Applicants' and 'Top Male Applicants' on the Sugar Mommas page. You can comment on their looks, leave them little messages and browse their various photographs. All of the women have a similar plastic look, while all the men are yes, incredibly attractive ... in a wax figure, Hollywood kind of way.

Anyway, take a peek for yourself if you are so inclined. You have been warned however: it is like entering a parallel, artificial universe where everyone is made out of rubber and plastic, has Barbie doll hair and doesn't mind dropping $200 on dinner to get a man to hook up with them.

No thanks!

The website is at: http://www.pocketchangenyc.com/sugarmamas.asp.