Make-up and Feminism

You are invariably impossible to understand.

There is some justice in disapproving of feminists for embracing gender inequality when they feel it suits them.

This doesn't have to be presented as an either-or situation. We can admit that we wear make-up because of social pressure and still do it because we enjoy it.

Just the way I like it, Birkenhead.

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.

I do think it's more the objection to the suggestion that a woman's worth seems so much dependent on conventional beauty, more so than men and less on her achievements.
Makeup personally, sometimes I wear it, more often I don't. I like the choice but I do often resent the difference that people (mainly men) react to me dependent on whether I am made up or not.
Less likely to listen to a point I'm making if I'm not appealing to them visually. Men don't need to put up with this bull**** to the same extent.

It's difficult. The idea of makeup itself is hardly feminist. Cosmetics companies push the idea onto women constantly that they must wear makeup to be beautiful (obviously because it is profitable to them). It is something which is ingrained within us. Men are, apparently, attractive enough without enhancement. Many women try to frame makeup as something which is feminist because they themselves choose to wear it and wear it from themselves. I can see this argument, but at the same time, they are still giving their money to a company built on the destruction of women's self confidence and their money is helping to contribute to this culture and way of thinking. We do not live in a bubble. Nobody makes a completely individual choice without some sort of society and conformity influence.

THAT BEING SAID. I wear makeup constantly. I enjoy makeup. believe many feminist values are correct, but I don't adhere to many of them, for strictly selfish reasons. I wear makeup to make myself feel attractive and generally seem attractive to others. I do not deny this. Sometimes I feel calling myself an in and out feminist is hypocritical, despite pretty much supporting many feminist ideas. Society has been conditioned to think makeup on women is attractive and I can't see that any time soon. I do not blame women in the least for being torn between boycotting cosmetic companies and giving into wearing makeup. Sometimes it's hard to not conform within a society built on conformity.

If you don't wear makeup, all the more power to you. Seriously.

I don't see any contradiction between being a feminist & wearing makeup. I class myself as a feminist & wear makeup because I like how I look in it, not because I feel I have to.

I link the origins of make-up to some ethereal Egyptian women, to whom it gave empowerment in a patriarchal society. This might be some crazy defence of a makeup-wearing feminist, sorry for that, but I interpret most of their ads featuring utopia and/or seduction to mean that cosmetics is a benign industry shielding women from negative aspects of reality.

I personally think as a feminist that everyone should do whatever they choose with their makeup once it makes them feel happy. Be that a full face of makeup and thick false lashes, or no makeup at all. Feminism to me is about feeling happy about yourself as you are, done up or done down.

Can we just clarify here that feminism means to believe in the equality of the sexes? Not to hate men, adore women or be a total buzzkill.

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

Would you be able to answer the questions in the OP?

The vast majority of women wear make-up. The vast majority of men don't. Why is that?

Do female feminists on here see any awkward contradictions between wearing makeup on a regular basis and their support for an equal society where women are not objectified or their appearance made a defining feature of them as people any more than it is with men?

Is it a healthy practice when looked at on its own? Does it encourage a healthy body image and self-esteem?

I'd say women wear make up not for men, but to continuously aim for airbrushed perfection which is rammed down our throats by the media.

Not a good reason, but it's damned near impossible to avoid feeling crappy about ones self when we have the magazines and other media outlets we do.

What is this supposed to mean? It does sound like a crazy defence.

So you're going to ignore biology and claim it's all down to the media making women feel bad? That is indeed a simple answer, and a completely wrong one. It's a matter of competition. The self-esteem issues girls face is down to a lack of interest from males.

The women who peddle this bull**** about fat acceptance, free-bleeding and all other nonsense, in which, the woman must do absolutely nothing to entice the man, but the man is still somehow obliged to chase, are absolutely deluded individuals. They are themselves fat, lazy, ugly and have matching personalities- who simply cannot compete.