Am I overthinking this? Sexist issue?

[SidsWife]

I have regular mental health assessments (bipolar). One of the categories for assessing wether I am sane or going loopy is wether I am wearing make up. I’ve just been sent the notes from my last assessment and they marked me as lacking in self care and flagged this as a decline in mental health due to not wearing makeup. Aibu to think this is a bit bollocks? I wasn’t wearing makeup because I was going to the gym after. Pretty sure my brother doesn’t get marked down for not wearing makeup at his assessments! Do you think I should call them and tell them actually, I’m fine Thankyou very much and explain that I was going to the gym? Or should I just let it go?

I would call them and complain about the sexist policy

How strange. Do you normally wear makeup and so it was very unusual for you not be wearing it? I never wear it unless I'm going for dinner/drinks/an event - hardly a lack of "self-care"? YWNBU to raise it with them OP

I only really wear it if I’m going somewhere. I just feel annoyed that I’m not deemed “presentable” if I’m not wearing makeup.

I never wear make up. It's very sexist to be honest and I would raise it as an issue.

I never wear make up. Unless they have already performed some kind of 'benchmark' assessment where you've said you wear make up regularly then I think it is sexist, yes.

Part of my job involves doing this assessment. The make up part is more of an example.

What they are actually looking for is is hair brushed or tidy, clean clothes, look showered, etc.

The make up part is outdated but most professionals wouldnt really take notice of this part (although sounds like yours could have taken this quite literally).

I would definitely bring this up. I don't believe you are overthinking at all.

If my clothes were dirty, I stank and hair looked like a birds nest I’d understand. But I was clean and well presented. Just no make up.

Cross post @lottie360!

I think you should follow it up.

Definitely worth pushing back on.

That is bloody outrageous! I never wear makeup,and I would be extremely annoyed if someone declared that I was going 'loopy' because I'm not wearing makeup!

I don't wear make up. I have only ever had idiots suggest it's because I don't care about how I look enough. Do the medical staff all dole up for your assessments? Of course not. What a deeply unhelpful process.

Definately follow this up. Its ridiculous just bevause you weren't wearing make up one day of your life! Outdated and sexist.

Could you not just ask about it at your next assessment?

It’s not clear whether this is:

• a standard form that says “female with no make up = no self care”
• a standard form that says “look for signs of declining self care, this might include xyz including not wearing make up”
• a form that is prepared according to your own history

I’m bipolar and also have these regular assessments. I agree with you. Although I must say, at the other end of the loopy spectrum I tend to wear increasing amounts of makeup, applied with decreasing amounts of care. I once turned up to an appointment with my psychiatrist in sparkly makeup and a sparkly silver cocktail dress

I assume it's a report written up after the assessment not a form.

I’m 99% sure YANBU, however the 1% is due to my history.

I was off sick with mental illness, and I saw the same team at occupational health at work. I said I knew my mental health was declining when I couldn’t be bothered looking decent for work. It would start with make up/straightening hair, then slowly go to not washing hair then not showering.
I definitely have never been one to wear a lot of make up, but I would put on a bit of mascara.

So therefore it became something they asked me about, and something my line manager became aware of. I actually had to tell her a few times I was off to the gym or had slept in, as otherwise she would question the lack of make up.

@frostywindow I know that feeling
I turned up once in skin tight gold trousers and leopard print lipstick!

I don't think it's necessarily sexist, they are looking for indicators of self care. For many women it wouldn't be unusual for that to include a little make up, not all obviously but they are looking for 'normal' for you.
A similar observation for men would be whether they have shaved which would tell them nothing about me.

How much hair is growing out of my ears (for the love of God WHY?) might give a few clues

@SidsWife leopard print lipstick

That's fucking outrageous. Yes follow it up and get this misogynistic shit removed. Good mental health doesn't have to include performing for the male gaze. They could also argue too much make up was a sign of low self esteem. Where is the evidence of any link between make up and mental health? If they can't show it's evidence based they shouldn't be using it. Make up is not the same thing as taking care of yourself, being clean and fed, sleeping etc.