We are too steeped in the tradition of training girls to be eager to please. An old teacher remarked "girls are easy, they will just get on with their work because they want to please teacher, but boys need more effort and attention because they will only work to please themselves".
The phrases "be a good girl" or " let's make you a pretty girl" are not intended as child abuse, but it is conditioning, because we don't think the best instruction for a boy involves being compliant, obedient, and making it the central focus of his existence, not to enjoy himself, nor to BE himself, but instead to do whatever is pleasing to others.
We certainly never make it the main focus of attention on him to do whatever it takes to be praised for his appearance, instead of for his ability, effort, achievement or work.
We have conditioned girls to want to please others, and boys to want to please themselves. Isn't that exactly what the thread is about?
P.S. I see it as all of a piece with women hanging out their skin in public, where men are covered, such as nearly any pair of t.v. presenters, she with low neck, bare shoulders or bare arms, and of course her legs out and wearing obvious makeup and painful shoes. The same with a formal dinner, or women and men singers Why?
And men can choose never to smile unless they want to, but women find it hard to resist smiling constantly. Why?
And an old fat non-good-looking man is fine for t.v., an old OR a fat OR a non-good-looking woman is unfit to be seen. Why?
Because women must be pleasing to men, men must please themselves.