Is makeup oppressive?

[Anonymous]

I'm not very good-looking, and I'm even worse without make-up. So I will gladly join the ranks of the oppressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was going to be about the heat.

LOL.

In that case, OP, might I suggest a good primer to help with the heat oppression?

If you're the crunchy type, Preparation H is a good dupe for any number of high-end primers.

No! Monistat Anti-Chafing gel is, not Prep H!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't more oppressive than men being expected to shave every day. By the way, shaving exfoliates, resulting in more even skin tone for men than women.

Men are also expected to get frequent, flattering haircuts and work out expectations aren't less than they are for women.

Ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with a man having a beard.

The trimming of a beard required to avoid a scruffy look can take more time than shaving.

[Anonymous]

The older I get, the less I care about what "society" is telling me I should or shouldn't be doing. I wear makeup to work or when going out at night for ME. Not because others think I should or because society is telling me I should. I like makeup. Always have. I like the way I look in makeup. On the weekends, however, I don't wear any (again, unless I'm going to out dinner or for drinks).

I wear heels or wedges because I like them. I like they way they make my legs look. I like feeling taller, too. But that doesn't mean I wear them 24/7 or that I feel pressured into wearing them. Ilike flats and sneakers, too.

I also work out because I want to be healthy and strong. Not because society is telling me I need to be a certain size. I like the way I feel after I work out. And yes, it's nice that it keeps the lbs at bay as I get older, but that's not the primary reason I do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The older I get, the less I care about what "society" is telling me I should or shouldn't be doing. I wear makeup to work or when going out at night for ME. Not because others think I should or because society is telling me I should. I like makeup. Always have. I like the way I look in makeup. On the weekends, however, I don't wear any (again, unless I'm going to out dinner or for drinks).

I wear heels or wedges because I like them. I like they way they make my legs look. I like feeling taller, too. But that doesn't mean I wear them 24/7 or that I feel pressured into wearing them. Ilike flats and sneakers, too.

I also work out because I want to be healthy and strong. Not because society is telling me I need to be a certain size. I like the way I feel after I work out. And yes, it's nice that it keeps the lbs at bay as I get older, but that's not the primary reason I do it.

That's all well and good, but the reason you like the way you look in makeup or the way your legs look in heels is because you have been conditioned to think you look better that way. That's what people mean when they say that "society" tells you you should do it. Nobody shaves their legs or waxes their eyebrows because it's more comfortable--they do it because they've been conditioned for years to accept that this the way women should look.

Of course, working out to feel strong and healthy is wonderful--I think we can all agree on that. But the fact that you even mentioned "keep the lbs at bay" means that you also feel the social pressure not to gain weight as you get older, even though any good doctor would tell you it is normal and even healthy to carry a few more pounds as we age.

Not trying to start a big fight here, but I do think it's worthwhile to continually examine our beauty standards and how they keep women in a constant state of low-level anxiety about their appearance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The older I get, the less I care about what "society" is telling me I should or shouldn't be doing. I wear makeup to work or when going out at night for ME. Not because others think I should or because society is telling me I should. I like makeup. Always have. I like the way I look in makeup. On the weekends, however, I don't wear any (again, unless I'm going to out dinner or for drinks).

I wear heels or wedges because I like them. I like they way they make my legs look. I like feeling taller, too. But that doesn't mean I wear them 24/7 or that I feel pressured into wearing them. Ilike flats and sneakers, too.

I also work out because I want to be healthy and strong. Not because society is telling me I need to be a certain size. I like the way I feel after I work out. And yes, it's nice that it keeps the lbs at bay as I get older, but that's not the primary reason I do it.

That's all well and good, but the reason you like the way you look in makeup or the way your legs look in heels is because you have been conditioned to think you look better that way. That's what people mean when they say that "society" tells you you should do it. Nobody shaves their legs or waxes their eyebrows because it's more comfortable--they do it because they've been conditioned for years to accept that this the way women should look.

Of course, working out to feel strong and healthy is wonderful--I think we can all agree on that. But the fact that you even mentioned "keep the lbs at bay" means that you also feel the social pressure not to gain weight as you get older, even though any good doctor would tell you it is normal and even healthy to carry a few more pounds as we age.

Not trying to start a big fight here, but I do think it's worthwhile to continually examine our beauty standards and how they keep women in a constant state of low-level anxiety about their appearance.

Of course not. You're just telling a group of grown women that they cannot possibly have independent thoughts, that society does our thinking for us. You understand that you're sharing the same argument as the trans-vaginal anti-choice men? So... shut up. I look very nice without makeup, but I look amazing with it. And that's my very own thought.

[Anonymous]

As someone with bad skin, makeup allows me to walk out of the house in the morning feeling good about myself. I feel bad for men with bad skin who aren't allowed to do anything about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The older I get, the less I care about what "society" is telling me I should or shouldn't be doing. I wear makeup to work or when going out at night for ME. Not because others think I should or because society is telling me I should. I like makeup. Always have. I like the way I look in makeup. On the weekends, however, I don't wear any (again, unless I'm going to out dinner or for drinks).

I wear heels or wedges because I like them. I like they way they make my legs look. I like feeling taller, too. But that doesn't mean I wear them 24/7 or that I feel pressured into wearing them. Ilike flats and sneakers, too.

I also work out because I want to be healthy and strong. Not because society is telling me I need to be a certain size. I like the way I feel after I work out. And yes, it's nice that it keeps the lbs at bay as I get older, but that's not the primary reason I do it.

That's all well and good, but the reason you like the way you look in makeup or the way your legs look in heels is because you have been conditioned to think you look better that way. That's what people mean when they say that "society" tells you you should do it. Nobody shaves their legs or waxes their eyebrows because it's more comfortable--they do it because they've been conditioned for years to accept that this the way women should look.

Of course, working out to feel strong and healthy is wonderful--I think we can all agree on that. But the fact that you even mentioned "keep the lbs at bay" means that you also feel the social pressure not to gain weight as you get older, even though any good doctor would tell you it is normal and even healthy to carry a few more pounds as we age.

Not trying to start a big fight here, but I do think it's worthwhile to continually examine our beauty standards and how they keep women in a constant state of low-level anxiety about their appearance.

Of course not. You're just telling a group of grown women that they cannot possibly have independent thoughts, that society does our thinking for us. You understand that you're sharing the same argument as the trans-vaginal anti-choice men? So... shut up. I look very nice without makeup, but I look amazing with it. And that's my very own thought.

Ha, ok. I'm sure if you were on a deserted island you'd be out there with your amazing full face, just for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone with bad skin, makeup allows me to walk out of the house in the morning feeling good about myself. I feel bad for men with bad skin who aren't allowed to do anything about it.

"Bad" skin - another social construct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The older I get, the less I care about what "society" is telling me I should or shouldn't be doing. I wear makeup to work or when going out at night for ME. Not because others think I should or because society is telling me I should. I like makeup. Always have. I like the way I look in makeup. On the weekends, however, I don't wear any (again, unless I'm going to out dinner or for drinks).

I wear heels or wedges because I like them. I like they way they make my legs look. I like feeling taller, too. But that doesn't mean I wear them 24/7 or that I feel pressured into wearing them. Ilike flats and sneakers, too.

I also work out because I want to be healthy and strong. Not because society is telling me I need to be a certain size. I like the way I feel after I work out. And yes, it's nice that it keeps the lbs at bay as I get older, but that's not the primary reason I do it.

That's all well and good, but the reason you like the way you look in makeup or the way your legs look in heels is because you have been conditioned to think you look better that way. That's what people mean when they say that "society" tells you you should do it. Nobody shaves their legs or waxes their eyebrows because it's more comfortable--they do it because they've been conditioned for years to accept that this the way women should look.

Of course, working out to feel strong and healthy is wonderful--I think we can all agree on that. But the fact that you even mentioned "keep the lbs at bay" means that you also feel the social pressure not to gain weight as you get older, even though any good doctor would tell you it is normal and even healthy to carry a few more pounds as we age.

Not trying to start a big fight here, but I do think it's worthwhile to continually examine our beauty standards and how they keep women in a constant state of low-level anxiety about their appearance.

Of course not. You're just telling a group of grown women that they cannot possibly have independent thoughts, that society does our thinking for us. You understand that you're sharing the same argument as the trans-vaginal anti-choice men? So... shut up. I look very nice without makeup, but I look amazing with it. And that's my very own thought.

Actually, taking a pause and examining why you follow the beauty routine you do is an exercise in independent thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with bad skin, makeup allows me to walk out of the house in the morning feeling good about myself. I feel bad for men with bad skin who aren't allowed to do anything about it.

"Bad" skin - another social construct.

Actually, it's not. I learned of some research a few years back that basically stated, across all cultures, the ONE thing that is universally attractive is clear skin. Not straight teeth, not a certain nose or mouth or hair or whatever, just good skin. So, no. It's a sign of good health and I agree that my skin looks bad from acne scars and sun damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with bad skin, makeup allows me to walk out of the house in the morning feeling good about myself. I feel bad for men with bad skin who aren't allowed to do anything about it.

"Bad" skin - another social construct.

+1

"Uneven" or reddish skin is not diseased skin. It is just what your natural face looks like. Its ridiculous how much paint we apply on ourselves because we are ashamed of our real faces. Some day historians will look back at us in pity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with bad skin, makeup allows me to walk out of the house in the morning feeling good about myself. I feel bad for men with bad skin who aren't allowed to do anything about it.

"Bad" skin - another social construct.

+1

"Uneven" or reddish skin is not diseased skin. It is just what your natural face looks like. Its ridiculous how much paint we apply on ourselves because we are ashamed of our real faces. Some day historians will look back at us in pity.

I don't have "uneven" or reddish skin. I have scarring and premature age spots. Save it. People with "acceptable" skin will never understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone with bad skin, makeup allows me to walk out of the house in the morning feeling good about myself. I feel bad for men with bad skin who aren't allowed to do anything about it.

In this regard, women have more socially acceptable choices than men do. Does that make us more oppressed?

[Anonymous]

Okay, OP (cough Lena Dunham cough) it's okay if you don't want to wear makeup.

You'll have to be more beautiful on the inside, however, and with all of that oozing sanctimony I'm not sure that's happening either.

And, by the way, in case my dowdy makeup-hating boss is reading this: I didn't enjoy the view of your long armpit hair in your sleeveless shirt the other day during lunch. It was pretty gaggy, actually. It's long enough to braid.