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?

Why did you feel the need to add in that someones nails look awful?

Does that make you feel better about yourself?

Why dont you post a photo of your hair, that you love so much and we can all judge it?

@deathgrip

Sorry, how am I being reductive?

How does what men as a class want affect my choice as to whether to shave or not? The only person who will see me is my husband and so the only person in a position to offer an opinion on me is my husband.

I do what I want to do, not what he would like me to do, yet somehow you are judging me as being against feminism for doing that?

So, if I do what he wants me to do does that make me more feminist?

And if women want to spend money on nails, who are you to say it's pointless or not worth it?

Actually there are posters directly criticising women and girls

I do know this Lass

Such as Hold

To me: you are actually delusional.

I find long nails grim. I'm not squeamish about many things, but long nails... If they're gel, shellac or varnished, it's worse because you can't see if they're grime free underneath.
And from an environmental point, 'done' nails carry a huge toxic load.

It's the system that keeps women spending money that makes them think they look good.

I never denied that. Society and media (and a big increase in social media) tells us nothing we have is good enough. Hair,eyes,eyebrows,face,lips, feet,bums,breasts, legs,hair,the whole body and even vaginas can and should be improved,buffed,changed,altered,invigorated etc.

I accept and see that. But that wasn't what was discussed here for quite a long time, just how useless,shallow and dirty women with gel nails are, to the point where wiping their own arse was brought into question.

Yes I criticised you directly.

Because you claim every person in the worl will find all your purchases worth while and like them. That is delusional.

I didnt criticise a whole group of people, for doing something. I criticised you for what you said.

I would tell my best friend, sister, mother, daughter, if the dress she was going to spend £150, on looked awful on her. I would not want her to waste her money.

Tennessee

Yup to the OP, I'm with you.

Hate wearing nail varnish as my nails feel 'odd' though I do very occasionally and admit to having probably 30-40 old bottles of every colour under the rainbow from the last 15 - 20 years.

But I must say I went through a phase of feeling like I was odd for not wearing it and not being obsessed with getting my nails done about 8-10 years ago as absolutely everyone I worked with or knew was getting acrylics etc. (And that's probably why I have so many bottles).

I've never understood the long nail thing - it doesn't work for making art certainly, or working with kids, or gardening and anything remotely practical and nails dry out if using a lot of clay etc so varnish only adds to the dryness.

I would now wear it if going out or to a wedding and if my nails were especially stained from ink/ paint or soil but I'd prefer not to.

Nobody ever makes a decision in a vacuum.

Anyone finding the discussion interesting might like to read Sheila Jeffreys' Beauty and Misogyny: Harmful Cultural Practices in the West - a bit more academic in tone than The Beauty Myth, but a very good read.

I wonder, had MN been around in the 19th century, how many posters we'd have had saying it was wrong to criticise wearing tightly-laced corsets because they choose to wear one and they like it - and aren't there more important issues than dress reform for women to focus on?

Because you claim every person in the worl will find all your purchases worth while and like them.

Where did I claim this? Hold

I said MY spending was worth while and not pointless. At least quote me correctly.

placemats that poster isnt your relative.

She didnt ask for your judgment and isnt going to stop spending money on her nails cause you say you dont like them. You didnt say it to save her money.

You just added in a nasty comment for the sake of it.

Earlier you called someone vindictive. That's exactly what that comment was.

Well, Brillo, I love your nails. Place's opinion on what looks good isn't the only one.

Tennessee

I was accused of pointless spending by Hold. It helps to read the thread.

I'm criticising the system

Yes of course you are must have been someone else who posted this comment- no, it was you.

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

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

Placemats is said the above.

Your response was

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

So you think everyone thinks your purchases are worthwhile.

I am quoting you directly.

So if I go on to Telly Addicts and say I didn't like a series I'm being nasty?

I don't like the nails. I hate the colour: Matt does nothing for an ageing skin.

I don't like the nails. I hate the colour: Matt does nothing for an ageing skin.

Could you get any more spiteful?

Matt does nothing for an ageing skin.

Is worrying about how young your skin looks and what colours can hide/help it l feminist ?

You do know what Green Nails means Lass?

It's a nasty fungus. A bit like the people with athlete's foot walking about the work place with no socks or shoes on and putting their naked feet up on the desk (yes this did once happen)

Dripping You clearly don't get the sarcasm. Despite the fact you are dripping with it!

That wasn't sarcasm, it was a dick move.

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

(Spending money on stuff other people think is pointless)

I bet you do buy things that othe women consider pointless. Off the top of my head:

● different bras - pointless. Why do we need different colour/shape bras. Surely 2 bras that are the same shape and colour is all we need. Buying anything more than that is a waste.
● handbags - pointless. Men dont need pieces of cloth hanging from the shoulders to carry thier items, why should women?
● jewellery - pointless. Why do we need to decorate our ears, neck and wrists. What purpose does it serve?
● shampoo - pointless. All that happens when you don't wash your hair is that it goes dirty and smells, but isn't that it's 'natural' state?
● deodreant / perfume - pointless. Sweating and our own smell is completely natural. Its terrible that advertisers try to make us think our natural smell is dirty.

I buy all the things listed above, maybe it's because of societal pressure.

The truth is, we all buy into the 'system' in some way or another. But for some reason there seems to be this view that you are betraying feminism and accepting the patriarchal system by having your nails done/waxing, yet you are not washing your hair.