I can't wait for the big butt fashion to be over.

[fallacy]

I'm more 'straight up and down', and slightly apple when carrying a few extra pounds, so the current trend for bottom-heavy hourglass figures is totally unobtainable for me.

I'll be glad when it's over, selfishly!

I'll also be glad to see the back of the massive lips with tiny pointy chins.

Aibu to expect the trend to die soon?

You are snarkily implying that intelligent women should be filling their heads, and their free time, with far worthier pursuits than their hair and makeup.

Do you not think it would be better if they did? I know the pressure on women to conform to these norms is high, but it would be good if we resisted pressures which make us spend so much more money, time, effort and headspace on a level of grooming which men never have to consider, and which only contributes to the image of working women as more superficial, frivolous and potentially less deserving of being treated seriously and with respect in the workplace, less deserving of promotion and equal pay. It's not our fault that we got in this unequal position, but it's partly our fault if we don't at least try to get out of it. And it's definitely our fault if we judge other women when they don't conform to these beauty ideals.

@lazylinguist no I think it’s great that women can wear makeup and dye their hair pink and wear NuRock boots if they want to and still have a PhD or be a pilot or work in Asda if they want to. Or not. You mention an unequal position, but I’m not convinced it is - we can still choose whether or not to wear makeup, how much, a 99p lipstick or a face full of Tom Ford. I don’t see why a woman would be thought of as somehow “less than” at work for wearing the full works, any more than someone who does nothing beyond a hairbrush, soap and water. The onus is on (generic) you to mind your own damn business not (generic) me to live my life to please you.

You are saying pressure to conform to these norms is high, but I’m not even sure what norms you are talking about; are you saying that wearing makeup, having hair and nails done is a norm, or having a good career is a norm. I’m not being obtuse (honestly 🙂). I’ve literally never felt any pressure to conform to being “done up”. I have however felt pressured to “use my brain” and not waste it in a dead end job. Maybe because I’m no oil painting 😉.

I’ve literally never felt any pressure to conform to being “done up”.

Lucky you, but it would be astonishingly naïve (or appallingly disingenuous) of you to claim to be unaware that other women and girls feel this pressure.

It would also be naïve to think that a) just because women shouldn't be judged as lesser by men because of their preoccupation with clothes and make-up that this doesn't actually happen b) that women have a free and uninfluenced choice about whether to prettify themselves- we are born into a world where this is what women do. We have begun to absorb that message long before we are at all aware of its implications.

It is normal for women to wear make-up. It is not the norm for men. It is still common for women to wear impractical, uncomfortable shoes. It is not common for men. It is common for women to have their body hair ripped out. It is less common for men. It is common for women to dye their hair. It is not common for men. It is common for women to spend ages blow-drying and styling their hair every morning. It is not common for men.

I'm not sure why any of this would need pointing out - it's so obvious. These things don't magically become a level playing-field as soon as women are theoretically allowed the same rights as men. Centuries of social conditioning are not so easily erased.

I’m neither naïve nor disingenuous. Maybe just maybe different people have different life experiences to you. I was trying to have a discussion. You just seem to want sneer at me, so fine whatever.

@fallacy I've clearly been living under a rock. Big bums/small waists are in??? That's me!! Where is everybody shopping for these wondrous jeans, etc that fit and celebrate that shape?