Make-up and Feminism

Of all the lesser concerns brought up by third wave feminism this is the absolute non-issue taking thew biscuit. If you are straight and of course that's a crucial point.

If you are straight, you do not wear a pretty dress or apply make-up to feel good about yourself alone, you're still conforming to the notion that you are valued more if you support your own objectification. Garments and cosmetic tools designed specifically to accentuate physically attractive and feminine features cannot be used as a tool against dat evil patriarchy. It's the same as me saying I'm not buying a penis extender to gain women's approval. If a 5 inch penis was considered hot then I wouldn't be buying one I'd be buying a frigging video game.

At best make-up/clothing is to gain the approval of female peers, who are still engaging in a 'who is the prettiest' competition ergo objectifying themselves ergo conforming to the notion their value is determined by the values of the patriarchy ergo seeking validation of attractiveness from Men if not specific men they seek to attract.

And if you are just dressing up for yourself or women, then why not just do a dressing-up party in the house rather than in the mass orgy that is a nightclub?

Gah that was mouthful.

I'm sure many feminists would say girls wear makeup for themselves, not for the guys, so all's good
But I don't (yet(?)) identify as a feminist -> I couldn't tell how much they dwelve on the makeup topic

Smash Bandicoot has said much of what I was going to say in response to this. In short, I don't buy it.

I don't buy it either, because I'm a girl and I know I don't only/mainly do it for myself, but that's what people say and maybe there's someone out there who actually feels this way and would wear makeup even if alone in the world

They do it to attract guys, and feminists hate men so...

I'm sure there is...I doubt this applies for the vast majority of them though.

For the tiny number that do it entirely for themselves, are they not still succumbing to the brainwashing of the enormous global makeup industry? And are they still not doing so in the knowledge that the vast majority of men don't feel the need to significantly change their face on a regular basis to enhance their sexual appeal? Are they not still embracing what they otherwise describe as the patriarchy's command that they spend lots of money and time making themselves as sexually attractive as possible, when this isn't something men are expected to so? Are they not still hypocritically embracing an element of gender inequality because they fear the social effects on themselves if they abandon it?

Unless you seriously believe women are genetically wired to wear lipstick and all the rest then the answer to these questions is surely 'yes'.

I think there is more to make-up than simply looking 'attractive' to males or females. For example, I love wearing purple lipstick, I don't think it makes me look more attractive at all (doesn't make me look worse either). It is an aesthetic I am going for, a style choice that has far less to do with appearing sexually alluring and a whole lot to do with creative expression. There are a lot of different reasons why women wear make-up, people forget it can be an art, it can be a booster of self-confidence when someone's skin is really bad, it can be an expression of personality (which is how I often use it), it can also be used to simply enhance beauty.

I am a feminist, I don't see make-up going inherently against feminism. There is a difference between wanting to look good and wanting to be reduced to your looks by others. Admiring a woman's beauty does not mean you are objectifying her. Objectification happens when you see her as nothing more than her body. Hope this helps!

I would assume a logical feminist (bear with me, I know that's hard to imagine) would say that makeup is yet another item that falls under autonomy. Women have the freedom to choose to either wear it or not, and either choice is perfectly acceptable and that choice should be respected. Makeup is not necessary, however, as it is just an item designed by a parasitic industry to make women feel as if they need to look like the pinup version of 'beautiful'.

On the other hand, Tyrion_Lannister, the spokesperson for feminism on here for a long time, used to say that she needed makeup, and wore it all the time, and that anyone who didn't wear it, or felt she was contradicting herself, was just insecure.

im a feminist and i wear makeup. being pretty and considering yourself equal to men don't clash in my books lol