Can we start an anti "nail" campaign?

[2rebecca]

As a GP who frequently washes her hands, allotment owner and instrument player I really hate the trend for women to have immaculate nails that cost a fortune, scratch people and mean women can't do anything useful. Where t f did this horrible trend come from and how do we give women back the use of their wonderful hands?

There was a thread a while ago in which 3/4 of the respondents demolished the OP for complaining about non-handwashers in the work toilets

I've no idea if my work colleagues wash their hands in the toilets at work because each toilet is a closed cubicle with a hand basin. They can, if they wish, ignore the posters on how to wash your hands, NOW! WASH YOUR HANDS, etc, but that's up to them to decide. The wash liquid is replaced regularly though.

My son's childminder has long, pointy acrylic nails with gemstones stuck to them, I have absolutely no idea how she manages to change shitty nappies and look after loads of kids with them on but somehow she does! And she does a good job of it too!

You don't know that she is doing a good job of it, though. The problem with decorated texture-y nails is the germs that get trapped and transmitted. I don't want to eat food prepared by people who've been changing dirty nappies with these germ traps stuck on to their fingers. I believe that they are banned for healthcare professionals.

JFC can you not understand bigotry and institutional discrimination re Northern IrelandHold?

No being from Derry I have no clue.

However it's not relevant to this thread

I was simply saying where I was from. You said it was NI I saying. And I said I know because I am from Derry.

Or do you feel my mention of Creggan had a hidden message? Again I simply said it because in several threads lately I have been challenged about where I am from because I am not specific or not. And then told I am not really Irish.

Bigotry of NI has nothing to do with this thread. However you seem to have taken great offence at me saying where I am from. You called me vindictive then made put because you are catholic you have a special power to spot vindictiveness. Except you dont. I simply said where I was from and that really pissed you off.

You have no clue about me, my political or religious leanings.

I'm £2000 pounds the wiser. LOL!

That's not wiser. And again I bet you spend money on stuff that other would think was pointless. We all do. Dying you hair has no impact on how wise you are.

Hold Why then did YOU mention it?

YOU brought it up! YOU replied to me 'What does 'Catch yourself on' mean.

I'm a totes fuck chav innit
(They are my natural nails btw)

You know what Hold I put it into a savings account. LOL!

I don't spend it on 'bonkers' 'pointless' things. Hope that helps.

I think there's been some confusion about class analysis in this thread. It's true that most (not all) women feel to some extent as if they're expected to decorate their nails, or as if it's a 'womanly' thing to do. I've certainly never seen a man with long false nails on, drag acts excepted

"class analysis" is also a very useful tool if you (general you) just want to have a pop at something you (general you) don't like or approve of and at the same time boost your (general your) egos about how enlightened and clever you (general you) are.

"class analysis" is also a very useful tool if you (general you) just want to have a pop at something you (general you) don't like or approve of and at the same time boost your (general your) egos about how enlightened and clever you (general you) are.

I agree.

Like this:

And again I bet you spend money on stuff that other would think was pointless. We all do.

Do you hot desk? I really don't want your bacteria on my key board. Green nails are not attractive

I think this ^ wins the prize for the most inane and irrelevant comment on the thread.

As if long nails were the only way bacteria could be spread and that anyone would or should care tuppence whether this poster doesn't find green nails attractive.

YOU brought it up! YOU replied to me 'What does 'Catch yourself on' mean

I asked you to explain because I didnt understand the context.

You then explained it was an NI saying. I simply said 'I know I am from Creggan, Derry'

You then flipped out because you think I am having some sort of dig. Despite not knowing where in NI you are. It's clear you have an issue with where I am from
Again you have mobile about my political or religious leanings.

Of course you spend money on stuff other people will think is pointless. We all like things and spend on some stuff that other people wouldn't dream of spending money on or liking.

No idea....not mobile

That was an odd auto correct.

I love my shiny gel nails, do them from home with a top up at the salon every few months.

They empower me, to be the best me. Make me feel confident & able to tackle the world.

You’re overthinking a non existent issue.

Not sure I want to join the anti nail party!

But I do hate the way we’ve been persuaded over the years that women’s bodies in their natural form are defective and need to be modified to be acceptable. That we are ugly and smelly and leaky and hairy and thank goodness the marketing people have things to sell us to sort us out and make us look “groomed” Nails is the latest one. There will be something else along soon. They make us insecure then sell us a cure. And a cure that, if my own daughter is anything to go by, perpetuates the problem by making your natural nails weak and flaky so you are caught in a cycle of acrylics. And when we’re talking about nail salons, frequently make us collude in modern day slavery too as a special bonus.....

What I want to know is why when criticising a woman (be it her nails long/short, pubic hair,skin care routine ,clothes she wears, cleaning routine,sanitary products etc) it always,always ends up as dirty/grubby/unhygienic.

Regardless of choice, somehow, for whatever reason we always end up being (shock,horror) dirty.

Of course you spend money on stuff other people will think is pointless.

I can assure you I don't. Hope that helps.

Hold

Now, for the love of god, give it up.

No one is criticising women or girls.

No one.

It's the system that is being criticised and discussed. There is a difference.

We have all been there.

@placemats

My little (incomplete) collection of some posts from last night.(that was completely ignored)

• and mean women can't do anything useful.

make it more difficult for women to actually do anything useful!

those hideous coloured talons are a useful marker for “probably shallow non feminist woman with whom I’d have nothing in common”, so quite handy really!

You can’t cook, garden, do basic childcare like changing nappies or have any hand hygiene to a fairly basic standard if you have on fake nails.

are women just there to look pretty or are we able to contribute a bit more than that by actually working with our hands??

I find it weird/confronting/off putting when I see women with inch long talons (it’s usually ethnic minorities to be perfectly frank though I’ll get strung up for saying so). My impression is that it’s intended to look threatening - and it is.

just looks wrong on woman wearing jeans and a T-shirt - fine if they are dressed up to go out but not on a rainy Saturday afternoon in the ballpark.*

No one is judging women and girls? Really?

It was the language on this thread that I have an issue with ,not necessarily nails and the need for grooming being discussed.

when we’re talking about nail salons, frequently make us collude in modern day slavery

Do you have stats for the use of frequently?

I’ve now doubt these salons exist but in reality how many MN posters are frequenting these and how many are having their nails done by trafficked women?

I like nail varnish on holiday toes but shellac or gel ruins your nails. I ruined mine last time I had them done so an occasional normal polish is fine. I think well cared for normal nails look lovely

I can assure you I don't. Hope that helps.

So you honestly think everyone else on the planet will think all your purchases are good ones and good value. No one would think something you bought is something they wouldn't spend money on?

If you do then you are actually delusional.

The only person who needs to give it a rest...is you.

No one is criticising women or girls

No one

It's the system that is being criticised and discussed. There is a difference

Actually there are posters directly criticising women and girls and some of the "criticism of the system" is simply an other way of criticising other women.

As if it isn't enough to have the patriarchy telling us what to do. Stop judging other women's choices and focus on the areas where women's options to choose are limited.

This isn't feminism.

And actually i have no issues discussing or criticising the system, or societal pressure, or social media or anything to do with class analysis.

But I refuse to be reduce to a useless, sub-woman because I like frikking gel nails(and don't want bloody and scabby fingers when working with children).

Obviously you are disregarding what women are saying to each other and making a judgement Yoursarcasm

That's your choice to do so. However, you offer little by way of redressing it. Or even helping.

I'm criticising the system. Not the language or imagery that women might use, and yes, some of that was racist, threatening (Ihavebrillohair) and classist.

It's the system that keeps women spending money that makes them think they look good. sorry brillohair your nails look awful

My daughter has said that she no longer shaves under her arms as this is natural hair that shouldn't be flushed down the drainpipe.