Make-up and Feminism

View of a make-up wearing feminist here

The main reason many women wear make-up and men don't is social norms, which tell us it is something for females and which most people listen to. It's nothing set in stone and can change - there was a time when high heels where considered masculine footwear!

Personally I don't. You can have the desire to look a certain way without that being a defining feature of you or you being objectified. Men take care of their appearance too in different ways, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. What I would say is a problem is when women feel forced or pressured into wearing make-up in order to look attractive, fit in with the crowd (even if that crowd is predominantly female!) or please men. It should be a complete free choice without social stigma or obligation either way, much like men can choose how to style their facial hair or whether to shave it off completely. Basically it's the way many women feel like they don't have the free choice to wear make-up or not that's the problem, rather than the fact that they succumb to the pressure to do so or that those who do feel they have the freedom sometimes choose to do so.

In terms of being a 'healthy' practice, I think it entirely depends. If it's done only to meet social pressures or because you're made to feel like you can't be attractive or look good without it, implicitly that there's something wrong with your natural face, that's a problem. The problem however is on a societal level, not an individual one - I would take great issue with any "feminist" that criticised a woman for wearing make-up when pressured to do so, rather than criticising the social pressures that led to it! Aside from that though, there's nothing inherently wrong with it - it can be used simply because you prefer the way you look with make-up on, or because it's something fun and potentially creative and even social to do, and for me that's not a problem at all.

You admit that the social expectation to wear makeup causes self-esteem issues, and you endorse wearing makeup. The only way social attitudes change is by people resisting them, which makes it completely nonsensical to continue wearing makeup unless you are happy with the self-esteem issues it causes.

You admit that the social expectation to wear makeup causes self-esteem issues, and you endorse wearing makeup. The only way social attitudes change is by people resisting them, which makes it completely nonsensical to continue wearing makeup unless you are happy with the self-esteem issues it causes.

I don't think resisting is always the answer. Educating people is usually more effective, enhancing women's self esteem. Reducing photoshop use etc

I don't really agree with your logic there. You can show resistance to those social attitudes by refusing to shame women for how they look, and calling out those who do.

I think in a perfect world girls wouldn't feel socially pressured to wear make up (or men just as pressured to wear it??) but I don't honestly think that girls wearing make up is some kind of feminist **** up. I think make up is a lot about girls judging other girls and being socially pressured to wear make up by other girls and the media. I don't think any girls wear make up to attract men - loads like the look of it and enjoy applying it and stuff.

This isn't about photoshop, this is about makeup. How do you propose we educate women out of self-esteem issues as a result of makeup, or society out of the expectation? The point is that society expects women to wear makeup and punishes them when they don't; the surest and most permanent way of combatting this is for women to boycott makeup altogether and readjust society's prejudice.



This flies in the face of thousands of years of civil rights history all over the world.

Incompatible?

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?

Yes but we wear make up in order to continue to attempt to achieve the photoshopped perfect look we see in the magazines. How is that not obvious? We have pictures of celebrity perfection thrown at us all day all saying "oh I use blah blah make up up" etc we all buy it to look like the celeb spikes person.

I'm a feminist and for me make up (along with high heels, sex work, removing body hair etc) all fall into the category of women should be able to partake or not partake and be be respected. Having the choice is what is important.

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

Its a crying shame that feminism today seeks to destroy feminine behavior.

Yes to equality under the law, no to militants.