Women’s expectations of other women are so much higher that the expectations for men. It drive me crazy watching my wife stress of what she is going to wear, how she is going to do her hair or how much makeup she has on because she does not want to be judged by other women.
You are spot on with your assessment of women judging other women. My wife will contort herself to check out how she looks in the mirror. I tell her the only one she has to please is me - and I am very pleased!
I cannot tell you how many times I have told my wife I find her the most attractive straight out of bed, before she does her hair or makeup. I think it took her until our 20th year of marriage before she believed me.