School make up policies

[rrhuth]

Hello, what is the verdict on school policies that do not allow make up at all?

I think they are not OK, because wearing make up is pretty standard appearance management for lots of people.

I had some friends who would have not wanted to go to school without their foundation etc. I do not wear it myself, so wanted to ask what the general feeling is about this. Something has come up at school (policy change). I do not have a make up wearer but was going to put my view in anyway.

If my school had that rule, maybe I wouldn't have been bullied by the other girls in my class for not wearing make up and constantly told that I needed a makeover I think in a way it could be good. It would hopefully help teenage girls become more comfortable with their natural face. But I get that it would cause real distress for some girls, so I don't think it should be enforced.

I really don't understand why anybody would be against wearing makeup for school? Why does it have a bearing on anybody else's life, and what job role /life skill would this effect in the future?
At 13/14 I refused to be seen without makeup, a confidence issue, even if it meant skipping school and there are plenty of teens the same.
If it makes a young girl feel better about themselves, seriously what is the issue?
So ridiculous.

I couldn’t leave the house without makeup now because my skin is not as I would like it to be! That hasn’t come from anything set by school in my childhood, it’s my own personal comfort and it’s what makes me feel better. Our local high school allows natural make-up for students and I completely get it. Most children don’t wear it and it’s usually the older year groups that do and it goes a long way to stopping the “rule breakers” as it gives them some normalised freedom. I’m not talking heavy eyes, eyeliner and mascara here, I’m talking natural makeup that helps a changing complexion and what could be a deal breaker for someone’s confidence.

We weren't allowed make up in school. I wasn't a big fan so I was fine with it but I can see why that was difficult for those girls who had acne breakouts.

I suppose the problem with a "natural" makeup policy is that it's very subjective. One teacher's "natural" might be another's "troweled on" so how do you manage that?

I don't think it's unreasonable having a blanket policy one way or the other though. I'm 38 and am not allowed to wear any make up at all for my job despite the bags and aged skin that my non sleeping children have left me with. I'd love to wear some concealer and a bit of mascara to work but you just have to learn that sometimes you don't get what you want...

Argh I am pretty conflicted! I want people not to feel they need to wear it, but if they do feel they need to wear it I don't want to force them not to.

I think on balance, I'm anti the rule.

How is wearing makeup "worse" than dying or straightening hair? Are there rules about that?

@RJnomore1

What is the moral high ground that not wearing makeup brings? I missed it. I’m all for choice.

Teen pressure is rarely About choice though one person has certain coat or Shoes everyone who doesn’t is out and uncool. Why would an 11y old need change how she looks I can’t get over that. You have rest of your life to spend hours in the mirror just be a child. Telling girls you are not good enough and totally fine to spend hours On it before step out of the door is awful message. Make up from 16-90 if you wish why the rush?

@DuchessSilver

How is wearing makeup "worse" than dying or straightening hair? Are there rules about that?

'Natural hair styles and colours'

Just go for a bb cream/tinted moisturiser and some powder. Maybe mascara as long as it doesn’t make your lashes look clumpy. No one will know.

It’s the too dark thick foundation, block brows and clumpy mascara/fake eyelashes that give the game away.

So long as boys aren't allowed make up, either, there is no inequality, here.

Why do you think that girls, specifically, need "appearance management"?

I'm not a fan of treating young adults differently to how I'd like to be treated.

I wouldn't be happy if my boss told me I couldn't wear make up to work. I'd feel unattractive and unconfident. Obviously the problem there is with society/the media making me feel that way about my natural face, but the solution isn't to prevent me from wearing make up.

So I wouldn't stop a 14 year old girl from doing it.

I'm not keen on girls wearing makeup. But at our school anything goes, including makeup, piercings and pink hair.

@PickAChew

So long as boys aren't allowed make up, either, there is no inequality, here.

Why do you think that girls, specifically, need "appearance management"?

As I said many times, I don't think they do need to - but the fact is many girls do manage their appearance

Ok so let’s say 16 is an arbitrary age for makeup. You do realise 16-18 or 19 year kids are often at school?

No one should be bullied for not wearing makeup

No one should be bullied for wearing it. Especially by adults and systems.

@Storminamu

I'm not keen on girls wearing makeup. But at our school anything goes, including makeup, piercings and pink hair.

I would really like this approach!

@pickachew why do you think they do?

Why do you think you should have an opinion on how they present?

What the duck is it to do with you?

@Fireatseaparks

I'm not a fan of treating young adults differently to how I'd like to be treated.

I wouldn't be happy if my boss told me I couldn't wear make up to work. I'd feel unattractive and unconfident. Obviously the problem there is with society/the media making me feel that way about my natural face, but the solution isn't to prevent me from wearing make up.

So I wouldn't stop a 14 year old girl from doing it.

A 14 year old is not a young adult.

A14 year old has a right to an opinion on how they look.

I’m not keen on any sort of uniform policy unless it’s to curb a particular issue at the school (e.g. gang colours, or high pressure to wear labels/particular fashions that leads to ostracization of those less well off). IF the no make up rule is intended to combat something like that I’d be okay with it, though I’d prefer they let people at least wear concealer.

I get the argument that school needs to be somewhere that girls don’t feel the pressure to make themselves look “perfect”, and I can see why people might think allowing make up increases that pressure, but I don’t think it’s uniform rules that make the difference there, it’s having a positive culture around other things and clamping down on any comments/bullying.

I went to a strict, all-girls school. We weren't allowed to wear makeup but I do remember putting concealer on my spots. It gave me some confidence although I'm sure it had worn of before I'd even got to school! I support wearing as minimal make up as possible. In my experience the more you allow, the greater is the capacity for bullying.

I'd worry about how you could effectively and fairly police a firm no-makeup policy without being inappropriately intrusive, especially if the students are used to wearing natural-looking makeup per the current policy.

Can every teacher accurately spot (for example) well-blended BB cream or a light natural blush or bronzer? What about lip stain, clear mascara, brow gel? Where do you draw the line between tinted moisturiser and foundation, lip balm and lip gloss, clear nail polish vs a high-shine buff? Is the teacher allowed to swipe the student's face to check if makeup is present, or supervise her doing it? Where would this activity occur - in public view? In the classroom? In the hallway? In the lavatory? In an office?

And if the student is wearing makeup, how does it get removed? Are they sent home, required to wash or cleanse their faces (where and with what?) Is there a potential issue with students of different races and/or ethnicities, whose natural colouring may look like makeup (or whose actual makeup may not be obvious) to a non-makeup-savvy teacher of a different background? It just seems like a minefield to me.

@PigeonPants these are good points, there is talk of being asked to remove make up.

When you change a policy like this, it is a real pain for the people who were used to complying to the old policy.

I'm 38 and am not allowed to wear any make up at all for my job

Genuinely fascinated, what job is this?

Torn on this one. I hate the makeup some teens and young women wear- the thick HD brows, fake lashes and trowelled-on countouring and foundation. I don't think any of it is necessary and is probably contributing to the hypersexualisation of girls. But some teens, both male and female, absolutely need concealer for spots. I'd be very unhappy for that to be policed. But what kind of awful teacher would force a student to remove something that's clearly for cover up purposes only? Surely there can be some common sense applied?

I'm guessing something in an operating theatre.

I suppose the problem with a "natural" makeup policy is that it's very subjective. One teacher's "natural" might be another's "troweled on" so how do you manage that?

Very much this. I work at a girls’ school, with a no-makeup policy, but it’s an unspoken rule that Year 10+ can wear a little natural makeup. Except, some wear heavy contouring, filled in brows etc. I don’t think it looks natural, but I’m a 45 year old woman (who loves makeup, but never contours). If I were 16, I would perhaps think it was an entry-level face.