make up is misogynistic oppression

[sixtyandsomething]

I hate make up, because of the devastating damage it does to the lives of women and girls

Obviously I don't wear any, so it doesn't damage my life.

But I am a teacher, and see its devastating impact on the lives of literally thousands of girls

It is ridiculous to think it makes women look "beautiful". Women without make up are beautiful. Women with make up look like they have a load of chemical crap smeared on their face to cover up their natural features. Which is what they do.

Thinking this looks "better" than a face without make up is just misogynistic programming and conditioning.

Girls are literally taught and programmed and schooled and conditioned to believe they can't go out without their faces covered. I speak to girls who tell me they will kill themselves if they have to take it off. They are surrounded by media images of women smeared in the crap, and are conditioned to think this is what a normal female face looks like.

It is expensive, time consuming and bad for your skin, but worst of all it is oppressive.

Just look at this picture and compare the natural look of the men, who just have the minimum make up required for the lighting, and the massively overexaggerated, false, completely covered up look of the women, who apparently need to cover their lips with an unnatural colour, paint extra circles around their eyes, change their eyelashes and eyebrows, and cake all the skin on their face in gunk in order to be fit to be seen.

And if you look at this picture and think "what is she on about - those women just look normal" then PLEASE stop for a moment and ask yourself WHY you think gunk-smeared to the point that no natural skin can be seen is "normal" for a woman!

I am not expecting much agreement, as I think so many women are so tightly in the grip of the (mostly male run) cosmetics industry, that they can't even see how brainwashed they are

But please think twice before passing this oppression on to your daughters.

Wouldn't it be amazing if the next generation of female BBC news readers grow up in a society where they feel free to show their actual natural faces in public.

Can’t bear it, I’m not painting my face to change someone else’s opinion of me.

Now that I am a bit older and wiser I completely agree with you...

Women and girls are conditioned to obsess about their appearance to a degree that really is not healthy.

The messages we get from society is that we need to cover up or/and improve who we are physically.

This is used to keep us insecure and sell products and to suggest that without all this we are ugly/worth less.

It also reinforces the idea that women's main value is about how they look and looking a certain way (thin, make-up on...).

Now I look at women, and some men, who wear make up and I just see a lot of bizarre paint that covers up their individuality.

I do think it should be people's choices though and I completely understand that it makes some of us feel better but I just can't buy anymore the idea that a woman can only be attractive if she covers up everything.

I do agree with @5128gap ‘s post too

YABU only because most people don't go around with super heavy makeup on every day. I don't think it's as big a problem as you make out.

I would not want the op to have taught my children and forcing her opinions and agenda on them.

She doesn't seem to grasp personal choice but just wants a slap bang veto on anything she dislikes.

No doubt a raving Lefty who I rather than try and understand other peoples points of view will just flat out refuse to entertain any other opinion but her own.

"Women look more beautiful without makeup" reeks of "you should smile more".

Yup. And the constant references to women's appearance and beauty. The OP just wants women to be aesthetically pleasing in a way that suits her personal taste. She's as preoccupied with women as ornaments as any 'misogynist'. Watching articulate, intelligent, successful women talking about affairs of world importance on TV, and her focus is on what they look like. The hypocrisy and lack of self awareness is astonishing.

That's not why I wear make up.

You are directing your ire at the wrong target. There is a mental health crisis among young women, and more some their response is to pile on make up/lashes/nails etc. it makes them feel better, more confident, like they fit it. The make-up isn’t causing the problem though, it’s the bandaid they are using to help themselves feel better.

I agree that make up is part of the problem of women being valued more for their appearance than for their personality, skills, achievements etc. And yes, this is oppression, in my opinion.

Most women make compromises with patriarchal social expectations, whether it’s wearing make up or shaving their legs or getting their eyebrows done. I feel more strongly about heels than make up though. And I’m glad to see so many younger women in flat shoes these days. When I started work, back in the 1980s, heels were expected for women working in an office (in my area anyway).

Watching articulate, intelligent, successful women talking about affairs of world importance on TV, and her focus is on what they look like. The hypocrisy and lack of self awareness is astonishing..

👏👏👏

100% agree. Well said. It is all nonsense. Don't get me started on under wired bras. Those things are torture and so painful. And totally unnatural

OMG and how hard is it to get a non padded bra for a B cup!!!

You have some good points, OP. I've seen it in my own DDs. Can't even put the bins out without a full face on!

However, that's just one end of the spectrum. I DO look and feel better with a bit of make-up on!

And turning the tables, men are so repressed (mainly by each other) that many don't/can't wear make-up (and many would like to wear foundation, at least, to cover acne, etc).

Most men I know (I'm a man) don't actually like makeup anyway. The light touch-up, like a bit of eyeshadow, can be nice, but the rest is excessive.

Many women I know can't go out without it though... so perhaps we need to address the confidence issues as a priority over the makeup itself.

I support this public service announcement :)

sounds like you need a fit check if you’re comparing it to a torture device

I'll do what I like with my face thank you, not because I am conditioned/brainwashed etc but because it's MY choice.
I don't give a shit if you choose to never wear make up, you do you. What I dislike though is your judgemental and misogynistic attitude.
Maybe you should reflect on that.

I went to SoccerAid last year and our tickets were in a very small section which the celebs and presenters walked through to several times to get in and out of the stand into the pitch. Not the tunnel, in the stands walking up the isle so touching distance. And you know who had the most obvious "put on with a trowel" make up? Dermot O'Leary. Plastered in it. I wonder if he realised how much he's fallen foul of misogynistic programming and conditioning. 🙄

Yes! I've a nasty feeling I've missed out on it though.

Ha ha. Most men can't tell if a woman is wearing makeup or not. That light touch natural look takes hours!

What about clothing, shoes, bags?
As a teacher we all like to express and experiment.
Your theory is well, yawn.
Not all makeup is chemical.
I dont wear makeup but i think people i know who do look great highlighter features and not all look like botoxed love island plastic people.

Having worked in TV. They have A LOT of make up on too. News studio lighting is harsh, and warm. All presenters are properly caked in make-up.

I wear makeup because I choose to.

Do you not think boys / men face a level of expectation about appearance etc too? There’s lots of expectation that men should be tall, muscly have a certain hairstyle, nice teeth, etc etc etc.

My main issue with this thread is this, if you don’t want to wear makeup etc that’s fine and your choice. I don’t wear it all the time but when I do to that’s my choice.

Feminism should not be about implementing a regime of dos and dont’s, it should be about supporting other women’s choices.

Claiming it’s misogynistic is a misguided argument, and the alternative you are proposing is just as oppressive.

There's a serious lack of critical thinking in this thread op. You're wasting your time.

Of course it is designed for women to feel self conscious without it. Of course it programs women to need it or they will be less desirable or beautiful.

It is just so ingrained, some women will gladly accept that.

I went through a period about 13 years ago where I forced myself not to put it on and I looked at myself in the mirror and really saw myself as I was. There were tears, it was difficult. I remember on Facebook there was a trend of "no make up selfie".

I remember how bloody difficult it was for many women to present themselves without makeup on social media. It has swung entirely the other way now with makeup, fillers, filters, botox, surgery being the norm.

Girls are more depressed than ever, more self conscious than ever. And yet girls are wearing more makeup than ever.

It is frightening and depressing. It is an addiction actually that women could possibly go outside without a face full of makeup. The beauty industry is laughing. The price of it is a joke!

Urgh I fell out with a friend because I "spend time making myself up for men" - I can't understand why women who profess to care for other women enjoy shaming them so frequently?

Men don't care or know about makeup unless it gets on them or in the morning when it is off if you look so different they feel they've been "tricked". The amount of men saying they prefer no make up who actually wank over women with fake eyelashes, fake tan, whitenened teeth, fake hair, fake nails is at an all time high.

*edit for context - I don't shave my legs and only put on makeup when I go out, maybe twice a year. My "friend" barely washes. It's subjective.