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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

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Original poster

Can we start an anti "nail" campaign?

999 replies

2rebecca · 01/06/2019 21:03

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?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

placemats · 02/06/2019 20:20

Obviously.

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 02/06/2019 20:21

face cleanser, moisturiser, hand cream and body lotion

Don't use those either.

placemats · 02/06/2019 20:22

What a miserable life it would be to exclude them.

That's your body and your choice. Miserable is how you would feel, obviously.

LimeKiwi · 02/06/2019 20:22

We are saying women, today, do it through choice. It doesnt impact what women can do, their careers, their hobbies, their lives in a negative way.....unless they come across one of the female tits on here that judge women for it.

This

I have never known a man judge a woman for having her nail done or not having them done. I have seen on here a lot of women judging women for having them done.
Same

DecomposingComposers · 02/06/2019 20:24

Could someone post a list of permitted practices then?

Are we only truly feminist if we exist in a natural state? What about clothes? What are feminist clothes?

Erythronium · 02/06/2019 20:24

That's the second time today I've seen adhering to patriarchal beauty standards being described as freedom. Interesting.

If men as a class wanted to paint their nails, they would. They're already free, being men in male supremacy. Patriarchy only oppresses women.

placemats · 02/06/2019 20:24

I've seen a judgement on women who have not had them done.

Obviously.

Your body, your choice.

Obviously.

placemats · 02/06/2019 20:25

Could someone post a list of permitted practices then?

It's your body and your choice - obviously

DecomposingComposers · 02/06/2019 20:27

Patriarchy only oppresses women.

I don't agree with that.

DecomposingComposers · 02/06/2019 20:28

placemats

Are you feeling ok?

LimeKiwi · 02/06/2019 20:35

And you didn't answer the question. Men have nails, why aren't they regularly painting on nail varnish or sticking on false nails? Why is it almost exclusively a woman and girl thing

Sorry, just seen this. What's wrong with wanting to look feminine? If that's what you like, what makes you feel good? For you looking good not others.
It's not a bad thing to like feeling feminine.
If I get dressed up (disclaimer - hardly ever, I'm usually in what looks clean and no make up to boot) but when I do I love feeling done up.
Makes you feel good about yourself.
For you.
I still feel great about myself when in my work boot type shoes and clothes others would probably think bag lady like lol.

Kilbranan · 02/06/2019 20:36

Sorry but my dh thinks fake nails esp the long talon type are hideous too and I can’t imagine he’s the only one
Like lots of us he will actually shudder when they are on show - I think an earlier poster is right than many of us have nail hygiene ingrained from a young age and seeing long coloured and often thick fake nails creates a reflex negative response. I don’t chose to feel like this and neither does he.
Google onychogryphosis if you have a strong stomach and you may understand why many of us feel like this - thickened, generally long, discoloured nails - bleurgh
As others have said it’s the not knowing what horrors lie beneath the fake nails/varnish etc

Mum2jenny · 02/06/2019 20:36

I like unadorned nails

LimeKiwi · 02/06/2019 20:39

Mum2Jenny your nails look like mine but mine are even shorter lol - yours are long compared to mine

Erythronium · 02/06/2019 20:41

Even if you google "men's pretty nails", after a few photos of men's unadorned hands, it brings up pictures of women's hands with long painted nails. It must be the patriarchy oppressing them. That's it.

Sarcasm doesn't suit me either, but jeez.

Mum2jenny · 02/06/2019 20:41

I've just cut them as they are strong and grow very quickly

snowone · 02/06/2019 20:41

These are mine.....not long and can do everything I need to with them! Without my gel polish I would have the most bitten horrors you have ever seen!

LassOfFyvie · 02/06/2019 20:42

Could someone post a list of permitted practices then?

Are we only truly feminist if we exist in a natural state? What about clothes? What are feminist clothes?

I've asked these questions several times over the years. On the oppressive beauty regimes thread there is a long list of disapproved of items- including some which men use and/or are simply to alleviate dry skin/ wash one's face. It's a starting point if you are interested.

On this thread the answer seems to be if men don't do it , women should not either.

Holdthedamndoor · 02/06/2019 20:43

So there were social pressures and now there aren't? When did those pressures stop? Can you date it? Now women do it through choice and men don't, also through choice. Nothing to see here, move along with your feminist analysis (aka just noticing differences between the sexes and how each are treated).

No I cant give you a date.

I can tell you when I was early twenties the women in my office all had their nails done in some shape or form. Mainly acrylics.

Now in my latest 30s, its swing the other way. Very few acrylics. A few have them painted. Most dont ibhave them dine occassionally.

And no one bats an eyelid. We all manage to get jobs, get promoted and succeed in our careers.

It's almost as though there is no pressure to have them done at all.

LimeKiwi · 02/06/2019 20:44

@snowone Sun 02-Jun-19 20:41:30
These are mine.....not long and can do everything I need to with them! Without my gel polish I would have the most bitten horrors you have ever seen!

Your photo didn't post? Can't see it if it did anyway

BogglesGoggles · 02/06/2019 20:45

You really don’t need to. It’s horribly common. Clean and neat (maybe some nude polish if you like that kind of thing) is the only socially acceptable nail.

Pandamodium · 02/06/2019 20:46

I like having my nails. I have managed to change a small child's oxygen wires with them on (fiddly) since he was a month old. Shitty nappies are a piece of cake.

Erythronium · 02/06/2019 20:46

"What's wrong with wanting to look feminine? If that's what you like, what makes you feel good? For you looking good not others."

That's not an answer. Why don't men want to look feminine? And why is femininity seen to be adornment of the body? Why is that associated with femaleness? There has to be a reason. Again men have faces they can paint, legs they can shave, feet to wear high-heeled shoes, nails that can be varnished. Why did modern beauty practices of adornment of the body only develop for women?

Mum2jenny · 02/06/2019 20:47

boggles you are just unreal! What planet are you from??

Fluggers · 02/06/2019 20:47

I get an an overlay on my natural nails to stop them breaking

I'm a civil engineer

I manage to carry out siteworks and office work just as well as my male counterparts

I also have a 4 year old child - manage perfectly with him too

I like my nails, it's my three weekly "me" time

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