Is it non-feminist to wear make-up?

For me feminism is about having choices (and I know that my experience may not be the same as or align with the greater 'Feminism').

To me, it's about the choice to work (or not), get married (or not), keep my pregnancy (or not), etc.

For me makeup falls under that category. I want to be able to choose to wear it or not. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Ideally I would like to neither be punished nor rewarded for it - and think men should have the same choice. I too like a bit of eyeliner on a man . I would be VERY angry if someone told me I was required to wear makeup or that I wasn't allowed. My face, my choice. (I understand women can make choices due to social pressure, but to me that is a reason to strive for greater culture change that allows women more freedom, not a reason to remove choices from women)

These days I usually wear makeup when I go out as an avoidance tactic. I know everyone gets tired etc and ought to be able to wear it, but honestly, I'm pg and I'm tired and ill (greenish-looking) ALL THE TIME, and I'm really, really weary of having to talk about it with nosy concerned people.

I also don't have any problem with people wearing makeup if they like wearing it, none of my business what you do.

But I don't like it, and no way am I wearing it just to make men like me more or to ingratiate myself with an employer, and I'm certainly not going to feel obliged to paint a bright pretty smile on my face to save people from seeing a woman daring to look openly tired or sad or whatever I happen to be feeling. reminds me of those men who order you to smile in the street .

i wear make up and perfume because i want to.i love putting my make up on and squirt of perfume- makes me happy.

and make up doesn't need to be pat butcher

clinique, bobbi brown all do neutrals and understated look

Well said, Ephiny.

I never wear any make up either. I am not ashamed of my face, I have no reason to hide it. I like it just as it is. There is nothing wrong with looking tired on occasion, as you say. All human beings get tired. And so what if I look my age? We all get older.

Not that women can win by wearing make-up as they get older, they will get "mutton dressed as lamb" comments. So since in any case we can't win, why waste our money!

I don't care if other people around me wear make up, it's entirely up to them. It annoys me to be told that that's how things should be.

And lack of make-up didn't stop me from having a good job (I also quit!) and meeting my partner.

I don't wear any makeup, never have (I'm 29), I just never felt the need to do it. This doesn't seem to have stopped me getting a good education, wonderful partner and well-paid job (hated the job and quit in the end but that's another story...). Maybe I could have earned another 15% if I'd put some coloured paint on my face every morning, but I don't really see how that would work.

Anyway, I tend to feel they can keep their 15%, I don't need it and I don't want it on those terms.

And yes I do look tired or pale or unwell sometimes (if I am those things) and will no doubt look my age as I get a bit older. Sometimes men look tired or sick or old, and no one suggests that they should have to hide or be ashamed of these things. If the sight of my face repulses anyone so much, they are not obliged to look at me. I'm not covering up with makeup any more than I would with a veil.

I don't usually wear make up but if I ever do, I probably do it to fit in with other women. Have rarely come across a man who cared. Dh thinks I don't need it. Must book him in for an eye exam...

indeed omni - they have quite differnt politcial implications. But raise it as make up isn't as 'straight forward' as it may first appear - hence me noting much further up that make up is not restricted a hetro-sexual dynamic.

But doesnt it signify very different things in men and women - in fact the opposite things - in men it signifies a dangerous non conformist and is therefore attractive while in women it signifies conforming.

yes, Capt Jack is just catching up with us.

Oh yes, a young chap in eyeliner is very fetching indeed.

i enjoy wearing make up and feel better if i wear a bit. don't care if i am not being a feminist.

remember in the 80s when some of the new romantic men wore eye make up etc

Odd though. Back in the day ( love that line) I was a New Romantic...yes I know...which involved lots of eye-liner, bit of mascara etc ( baggy shirts and suede boots, as well yes - I was young!) - and our popularity with girls rose dramatically. so....'men prefer women in make up...women (young in this case) are attracted to men (young in this case) in make up'. Tricky innit.

[Flutters eyelashes glamorously at motherinferior]

It's a whooooole different language innit

ah yes, me too

I am a peely wally Manc, with mascara

a wall-eyed Scottish person ?

a what ??

I worry about the political implications of wearing makeup. But I also worry madly about my looks.

I do wear makeup, these days. I think on balance, it helps sort my head out a bit about how I look. (Also I am 47, which is older than both the very glamorous Hester and the very gorgeous Edam.)

I am quite bright, and quite politically acute, about most things, honestly.

If I had dark skin and defined features, I would wear no make-up

As it is I am an English dishrag rose, and I need a bit of help to look like I am not suffering from terminal myopia

I would like to live in a world like that too.

Then again, I would like to look less like a skinned rat in the morning without mascara.