I think it all goes back to the fact that women are sex objects and men are people. In every human society I know of this is the undercurrent of sexism everyone is talking about. Men are expected to do things, and women are expected to marry well. As a woman, society tells you that how you look determines what you're worth. So, I suppose that bucking against the current and not dressing up and painting your face scares some people. As a whole conformists are more valued than non-conformists. I think when women fail to perform to this ideal, then it's like we are making a statement "look at me, I think I can do something" and men find this threatening to their masculinity, and other women like to point out just how much better than you they are at conforming to their gender roll, in hopes it gets them somewhere.