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.

Haven’t read the full thread but your op made me angry for myself and my dd who suffer from acne, and would not be able to function without concealer etc. I think you are over thinking this and imposing your choices on others.

The contouring on the guy on the bottom left is 👌 wonder what he uses?

Oh here we go. If anyone disagrees with you, they have been indoctrinated.. sigh…

I think make up is a symptom not a cause.

Like body armour in a war zone.

There is sometimes a weird sense of superiority on Mumsnet from those that don't wear make-up. There are always the words 'muck', 'smeared on' etc.

Your stance is odd OP in being so extreme. I'm in my 50s and have worn make-up since my teens. I have neither been damaged, spent thousands, nor spend more than 10 minutes a day putting it on (and some days don't bother). I also don't care about men's opinions on it, not least because they generally can't tell if a woman has make-up on or not.

It makes me look better (as valid a viewpoint as you think women look better without it) and I like wearing it. In just the same way I like wearing nice clothes rather than a functional beige uniform every day (or any other basic clothing that does the job of keeping you warm and decent but nothing else).

It seems a shame someone can't post a question on here and not be called "angry" for it just because some posters disagree with the point.

OP, I get you. Whether we admit it to ourselves or not, we are all conditioned by the society we live in, I don't know why people would be offended at that suggestion and call you "angry" as a result of that suggestion. Can nothing be up for debate without people taking offence?

As an aside I wear mascara every day to make me look more awake. I have good skin on my face and a shed load of visible freckles across my cheeks and nose in summer. I hate covering my skin in makeup.

All these people do unaware of their subconscious conditioning.

If you were on a desert island with no mirrors or phones or ways to see yourself you’d dye your hair and put on make up. For who exactly?

The sea gulls?

Our identity is created by the people we live around.

Take them away and ‘you’ cease to exist.

Our identity is made of up the way we wish people to perceive us.

You do not live in a vacuum much though you might like to tell yourself that you do.

You may not have seen the nasty comments made about a woman by the Op on another thread.

I like to wear it and I wear it for me.
you don’t like to wear it so you don’t.

🤷‍♀️

I do agree to a certain extent, the pressure to have perfect skin, full eyebrows, cheekbones and full lips is bizarre. You go into any town centre and all the girls of a certain age look the same, with long straight hair in a centre parting. It's the same with hair removal, men are able to be 'natural' whereas women are expected to pluck wax and shave to look presentable, its fucked up.
That said, I've always liked wearing make up, it makes me feel more confident and I like the way my face looks with more defined brows, some colour on my pasty cheeks and a bit of mascara to bring out my eyes. Also as a woman in her 40's who still gets spots, I'd rather cover them up than have them be a focal point. I think using make up is fine, we can't and shouldn't tell people, especially women to wear or not wear it but I also believe that girls should be taught that it is their choice and that however they choose to present themselves is about them and not about pleasing others.

I am a very old-school feminist and I bloody love make up. I wear it every day, even when I work from home and see no one but my own reflection. Which is most days.

It makes me happy. I actually giggled this morning when I accidentally managed to perfectly coat an entire set of top lashes with one sweep of the mascara wand. No touch up needed. Never done that before. Instantly my eye looked bright and lively. I'm very pale with very pale lashes. Without makeup I look washed out, old, tired, grumpy, mean.

It isn't time consuming. In less than 5 minutes I look fresh, alive, younger, happier every day. Occasionally I spend 20-30 minutes doing a really careful, thorough AliAndrea makeover. I always get loads of compliments if I do. That's no time or effort at all, a few times a year.

It isn't expensive. I spend about £40 a year on make up. A few pence a week to bring me joy, make me feel and look lively and happy and reflect my inner mood in my outer expression. I can't think of anything else I buy that gives so much pleasure for so little outlay.

And yeah, all the men on those photos are also wearing makeup!

It’s not the question. It’s the words used, smear, crap etc. it shows the true motivation behind the ops thinly disguised bitter littke words.

Would you put it on, on a desert island? With no one else there?

Would you put it on, on a desert island? With no one else there?

Yes. I consider it a hobby.
I enjoy creating different looks.

I admit I haven't seen the other thread. But in the spirit of this one it's still a valid question and we are ALL conditioned by the society we live in, whether we admit it or not.

@AppleStruddle123 nailed it.

What if I accidently see myself reflected in a small pool of water??

Would you feel the urgent need to put on make up?

For…. who?

Yes😄

If you were on a desert island with no mirrors or phones or ways to see yourself you’d dye your hair and put on make up. For who exactly?

For me.
I enjoy it.

You do not live in a vacuum much though you might like to tell yourself that you do.

I don't tell myself that.
I am fully aware of the pressures associated with socialisation, especially with regards sex and gender.
But I can still enjoy wearing make up and dying my hair.

I dont wear much makeup but I would try to fix myself up a little each day on a desert island (and would wear sunscreen). This might be trying to comb through hair, wash my face etc. It would be a part of maintaining a daily routine and discipline so I wouldnt go all "wilson".

Agree

I would. If I was on a desert island I would probably be very anxious and putting on my makeup would be a soothing routine at least.

Year in, year out? Simply don’t believe you.

in the absence of other humans and a mirror, why would you bother?

why do people who live alone make their beds?

I see words like "smear" and "crap" as OPs opinion, which she is entitled to. Fair enough, you hold a different one to her as is your right to do so.

If someone feels makeup is "smearing" "crap" over physical features they are entitled to that view and have a right to voice it in a free society. I fail to see how it's offensive to anyone or how it shows OPs "motives".