Women are blessed with lots and lots of extra ways to win or lose validation. If you're a woman, you'll be judged on your beauty and your wit and how often you smile. You'll be judged on how much hair you have in some places and not in others.

In this quote, Faith Salie speaks to the complex and often unrealistic expectations that society places on women when it comes to validation. She acknowledges that women are constantly being judged not only for their physical appearance but also for traits like their wit and even how often they smile. Salie highlights the idea that women’s worth is often measured by a variety of factors, many of which are superficial or beyond their control.

Salie’s words also touch on the societal emphasis placed on beauty and the standards that dictate what is considered attractive or acceptable. She mentions how women are judged for having the "right" amount of hair in some places, but not in others, referring to the pressure to conform to narrow beauty ideals. This is a reflection of the contradictory and often arbitrary expectations placed on women to meet multiple, ever-changing standards of perfection.

The quote reveals the intense scrutiny women face in everyday life, where they are subjected to various forms of judgment based on both their external appearance and behavior. Salie points out that women are not just evaluated on one aspect of their identity but are expected to fulfill multiple roles at once, whether as beauties, intellects, or socially engaging individuals.

Ultimately, Salie’s quote emphasizes the pressure women face to navigate a landscape where their value is often determined by how well they meet a complex set of expectations. It speaks to the larger conversation around gender and self-worth, urging society to recognize the toll that these constant judgments can take on women’s sense of identity and confidence.