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?

Yikes. That was a long rant. Soz

“But excoriating another woman, critiquing her appearance in an unasked for manner, or appraising her appearance uninvited, as though she is public property and this is anything but bullying...damn right, that's not sisterly. And antithetical to feminism.”

Of course.

I think all women should have the choice to have their nails as they ‘want’ to. There is no right or wrong way. Some women prefer the natural look, others prefer the painted look, others prefer to have them extended.

I think women should have the ‘choice’ and not have anything thrust on them because an individual or group thinks that’s the way women should look/act etc.

“I think women should have the ‘choice’ and not have anything thrust on them because an individual or group thinks that’s the way women should look/act etc”

Yes, I think that too. Unfortunately that boat has long since sailed.

Yes, I think that too. Unfortunately that boat has long since sailed.

Sadly yes, as this thread shows women can be just as judgy and nasty towards other women's appearances and what they should or shouldn't be wearing

As I said, women can be unpleasant too. Try being a feminist on Mumsnet!

Women can also be misogynist. For lots of reasons of varying degrees of complexity.

I don't think it's all about insecurities. Women who enjoy grooming and make up routines often say it feels like the only corner of their lives when they're doing something entirely for their own enjoyment, rather than servicing other people.

Yes advertisers play on that - hence all the references to 'pampering', 'you're worth it' etc.

Which then raises the question of why we have a society where so many women spend so much time looking after other people’s needs that they put such a premium on getting a break from that.

Yes exactly Tasha. It feels like even in our (often) very limited free time, we're still expected to devote ourselves to activities that are either 'useful' (to quote the op) or self improving.

And I mean intellectually or spiritually self improving. I think having some space in our life - however small - where you're not expected to do anything useful or worthy is really important. I don't care what you do with it. It's something I think men take for granted.

It wasn't patriarchy on here. It was a small number of posters choosing to be nasty and supercilious about and to other women. "Patriarchy" doesn't excuse that.

we're still expected to devote ourselves to activities that are either 'useful' (to quote the op) or self improving

Yes , the OP made sure we knew how useful she was and that she indulged in worthwhile activities like digging an allotment and playing an instrument.

“Patriarchy" doesn't excuse that. ”

Patriarchy doesn’t excuse anything. It does explain a lot, however. Including why some women embrace misogyny.

It wasn't patriarchy on here. It was a small number of posters choosing to be nasty and supercilious about and to other women. "Patriarchy" doesn't excuse that.

Exactly - putting everything women do down to the patriarchy just smacks of "well, it's not their fault, the patriarchy made them do it."
Sod that. Women can be awful too

Exactly @LimeKiwi!
Sometimes women are just nasty. That's not because of their gender or society. It's because they are bitchy. You don't like something. Don't do it.
But don't get your kicks out of looking holier than thou over shitting over other people.

“Sometimes women are just nasty. That's not because of their gender or society. It's because they are bitchy. You don't like something. Don't do it.“

There are ways in which women are unpleasant to other women which are informed by the patriarchy though. Criticising women for either conforming too much or not enough to societal norms of appearance is a case in point.

DontPressSendTooSoon

I was a past nail biter too. Combined with poor nail genetics my natural nails are a sight! Used to bother me a little as I felt they looked unprofessional - short and bare nails are fine, but the short (to the already shortened nail beds), torn, chipped, angry ones didn’t. If I filed them I tended to just tear them more (even with a glass file) or they would have to be so short to be even that I had too much sensitivity. They reminded me of toes ha ha.

I started getting (soak off) gels for some armour over my nails and to break my nail picking or biting habit. I still keep them shorter as in to no longer than the end of my finger (and file them down as they grow out) but I don’t bite or pick at them anymore as I know they cost me money! And now I don’t mind looking at them or others seeing them either.

Woman chooses not to do nails or wear high highs: yay, fantastic, go girl.
Woman chooses to do nails or wear high highs: it's not really choice, no decision made in a vacuum, societal expectations, etc.
What a mean spirited forum.

Woman chooses to do nails or wear high highs: it's not really choice, no decision made in a vacuum, societal expectations, etc
What a mean spirited forum

Yep, that's about the size of it! You're not allowed to want to look feminine because it's what you like.
You must be brainwashed and the patriarchy made you do it.

I could say some more about this this whole society/patriarchy/women’s appearance/women criticising other women thing- would anyone be interested?

We all know the idea of what's feminine is a social construct.

However it doesnt matter. Rejected everything classed as feminine doesnt make anyone better than anyone else. Why would it be better, if a woman rejected anything deemed feminine. Just because its deemed feminine.

Besides, thisbisnt what bothered the OP. She dosesnt like then and doesnt want women to wear them because it holds women back.

Let's be clear. Women may feel pressure to do certain things, but when it comes to nails 2 posters out of alot, say they have had negative comments about their nails. It's not something that happens alot. Shouldnt happen at all. But as this thread shows, some people are dicks and will have a dig. More than 2 posters have been deeply derogatory about women that do have them done.

There isnt this huge pressure. They dont hold women back. Any woman that wanted a career or to do a hobby that was incompatible with having long nails, wouldn't have long nails.

The OP is a gp. She wants to be a gp and doesnt have long nails. The 'trend' for long nails, didnt stop her and wouldnt stop another woman.

Its not a huge trend, more women dont have them than do.

Despite 'feminine' things being a social construct, women still have the ability to choose. Some women choose long nails. Some dont.

Ops campaign, is based on a load of bollocks about giving women their hands back. Shockingly women have their hands, they can choose what they do with them. They dont need some ridiculous campaign, to make them see they may not want them.

And to be honest writing off nasty misogynistic insults as the patriachy. Is an excuse. Again you are saying women cant help it.

They can help it. Tons of women manage to get through the day without judging women because their nails (or for any reason) are too long and deeming them unworthy.

I manage to get through the day without hating and judging other women. I am not special. I havent broken the patriachy wheel. I just try to be a decent person.