Is Your Significant Other More Attractive Than You Are?

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Is your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend more physically attractive than you? (think Ric Ocasek and Paulina Porizkova). I've just read a somewhat heartbreaking essay on the topic in the May 7, 2007 issue of Time Magazine. In this essay, Belinda Luscombe writes about the pain and discrimination she experiences as a result of being married to a man who is more attractive than she. She notes that, whereas interfaith and interracial marriages have become more or less acceptable in society, marrying "outside your looks" is still considered taboo. She has even developed a coping mechanism for the inevitable comments she gets from co-workers and friends. For instance, when someone makes a comment along the lines of, "Um, your husband is so hot," she retorts: "Yeah, but back in Australia I'm considered a great beauty. It's Nicole Kidman who's the hag." Ms. Luscombe notes that each time it hurts a little less. She argues that the problem is more acute with respect to women who marry a few rungs up the looks ladder. People tend to look upon such women as being deluded; or they figure the husband must be gay or some such. How about you? Do you have to deal with this issue? Do you know somebody who does? What are your thoughts? Comments? Reactions?