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?

But men are just as prone to artifice and adornment.

Yep. Come to the Sugar Hut here in good old Essex if you want to see some male artifice and adornment.

@mum2jenny I don’t know, why would you have someone stick on fake nails for you? The judgement isn’t strong. No one is going to be fired over awkwardnails but it’s definiely not elegant and not the universal pressure that OP thinks is out there. It’s definitrly not something that well dressed people do unless they are very young or going to a costume party.

Cleopatra was often called a painted whore.

One of the most intelligent people in the world at the time. Spoke several languages, very educated. But the rest of the world considered her a painted whore because Egyptians wore make up.

Quite incredible how society as a whole hasnt moved on. Even the women who claim to be feminists still cant see past what a woman looks like or wears and judges her class, intelligence and personal values.

boggles you're just not answering my questions.

However that's your choice!

But men are just as prone to artifice and adornment. Some go as far as to havecosmetic surgery just as women do. Perhaps the extent tends to be slightly lesser but it’s not a predominantly female thingtodo.

Of course it's a predominantly female thing to do. The male beauty (they call it men's grooming) market is practically non-existent. I've never come across a man who has had cosmetic surgery. I've encountered a number of women who have though.

You really don’t need to. It’s horribly common.

Horribly common. FFS lol.
I could say you're being fancy schmancy and buying into the patriarchy for thinking that your nails should be at least clean and neat and maybe with a bit of nude polish.
Balls to that.
I'll stick to my unpolished, very short nibbled sometimes slightly dirty ones lol.

It’s definitrly not something that well dressed people do unless they are very young or going to a costume party

@BogglesGoggles you use many different words but what you really mean is "lady like".

All these comments about,girls,young,common, well dressed....

Quite incredible how society as a whole hasnt moved on. Even the women who claim to be feminists still cant see past what a woman looks like or wears and judges her class, intelligence and personal values

Indeed

It’s definitrly not something that well dressed people do unless they are very young or going to a costume party.

I disagree. One of the women at work that wears long nails and flash lashes is always impeccably dressed for work.

I have gel nails on. Beautician still thinks it’s weird that I don’t have them super long. I have them for the same reason as @YourSarcasmIsDripping

And also, can we not be telling other women what to do with their bodies? Your internalised misogyny is screaming.

And also, can we not be telling other women what to do with their bodies? Your internalised misogyny is screaming

Well said

The male beauty (they call it men's grooming) market is practically non-existent. I've never come across a man who has had cosmetic surgery.

😂😂😂😂

Oh you must be joking. Male grooming is non existent? And men don't have cosmetic surgery? My husband has for starters - a nose job.

And what about pec implants and ab sculpting, calf implants, penis lengthening surgery?

Wow
This thread is evolving.

It's a feminist issue only inasmuch as it's extra stuff that women and girls are led to believe they should spend their cash on.

It's been a big part of the mlm empires which do exploit mothers of young children.

And girls and young women are led to believe they're not womaning properly/ attractive etc if they don't like to paint their nails..

The non existent male grooming market was worth 608 million pounds in 2017 apparently.

www.statista.com/statistics/382089/mens-grooming-market-value-united-kingdom-uk/

And girls and young women are led to believe they're not womaning properly/ attractive etc if they don't like to paint their nails..

We have established that no one actually feels like that.

However theres been a ton of derogatory comments about women who do wear them. Judgements on their class, intelligence, values.

And girls and young women are led to believe they're not womaning properly/ attractive etc if they don't like to paint their nails..

Are they?

but it’s definiely not elegant and not the universal pressure that OP thinks is out there. It’s definitrly not something that well dressed people do unless they are very young or going to a costume party.

Huh?! My 85 year old grandma is a beautiful woman and she sometimes wears a lovely pearly colour. Your opinions sound extremely out-dated. There are thousands of colours and styles you can do your nails which are lovely. You would think I'm common as muck, I have eye lash extensions (which look incredibly natural), coral toe nails and pink nails. I live in a fancy area, one of the most affluent in London - I guarantee there are plenty of people who you would consider "well dressed" and the nail salons are constantly busy.

I honestly can't imagine thinking so highly of myself as to imagine I am the arbitrator or gate keeper of "good taste." I like that we live in a world where everyone looks different and unique. How dull if we all looked the same.

Where t f did this horrible trend come from and how do we give women back the use of their wonderful hands?

OP, why did you put this thread in feminism when criticising women for their choices and trying to control their behaviour is the exact opposite of feminism?

This should be in AIBU. And the answer is yes.

Unnatural Male up is for young girls/people who never grew up

Oh, give over! I say this as someone who literally never wears it! I can count on my hands how many times I've worn make up over the past twenty years and I'm not even exaggerating.
It's personal choice!
When I do, it makes me feel nice. No idea why, it just does.
My default happy place is with no make up though. As it's me.
If someone else wants to wear make up, why shouldn't they?

I don't understand why anyone would think that a woman painting their nails or having acrylics is doing it for men. When I very rarely get my nails done my dp thinks it's a waste of time and it looks a bit daft, same goes for my mum and my dad. My friend (who gets ger nails redone every 2 weeks) dp thinks its a waste of money and they look a bit daft aswell. Infact I've yet to meet a man who says, oh I like your nails, they're pretty.

The male beauty (they call it men's grooming) market is practically non-existent. I've never come across a man who has had cosmetic surgery.

Lmao to men never usually have plastic surgery. Have you seen some of the celebs out there?!

Happy to join an anti nail campaign as I have a lifelong habit of biting my nails and they are normally little stubs. I have on occasion grown them and had them ‘done’, both gel polish and acrylics. The bastard things haven’t lasted more than a few days because the moment I did anything with my hands the polish chipped or the acrylics started to fall off. I do a lot of sewing and find long nails completely impractical. They’re very irritating in the gym too. To the posters here who claim that having long painted or gel/acrylic nails don’t stop you from doing practical things, how can this be so? What’s the secret? I’m astounded that healthcare workers are allowed to wear them. Currently working in catering and it’s pretty standard practice in any good company or establishment that even nail polish Is unhygienic because it can chip off, let alone false nails!