Does anyone feel less inclined these days to wear makeup and skirts or dresses due to the focus on femininity as what defines woman?

[Quietlyhere]

This is something I've noticed in myself. Never wore a lot of makeup but now, in an age of celebrating drag queens everywhere and defining women as those who are feminine, I am much more likely to be found in comfy trousers and t-shirts/jumpers, and no makeup. Still very much a woman.

Of course I'm not saying women should change, everyone should wear what they like as long as certain body parts are sufficiently covered up. Just an observation of my own choices shifting in this climate.

Without being nasty ( hopefully), I do think you are over estimating the effect that the trans issue has on the vast majority of women. I only really regularly come across this issue on MN and the occasional news story.
I think I would blame the lockdown for people dressing less formally. Many people never got back into the habit, myself included.

I think teenagers are very aware of this, both ways round. When my daughter had her hair cropped really short, she was totally unprepared for being asked daily by kids at school if she was now ‘trans’.

No! I always wear skirts ( preference just below the knee) - and whatever else I like, think suits me and that I find comfortable. Once my feet have been liberated in early May, they do not go back into shoes, socks or tights until October. Fit flops all the way.I'm not big on make-up; Just a bit of mascara, and if i go to an event or function - some eye-liner too.

Thanks for this comment @TheirEminence

I have also observed subtle changes in teenage fashion that to me seem to be a bit of a push-back against the ultra-feminine, artificial look - wide cargo pants, little make-up, crop tops, showing off natural female body shapes that are extremely hard to emulate by those who are not female. Imagine Eddie Izzard in brown cargo pants and a simple white cotton crop top and you will know what I mean.

I've noticed, without thinking about it much, a later teens through to perhaps mid twenties look by many out and about that is covering yet revealing in the sense that there is no doubt about sex.

Yes, I see a growing number of young women with cropped hair and a definite androgynous look. They're not adopting trans identities, just going with the fashion zeitgeist which is for a 'non binary'/androgynous look.

it is certainly more healthy, and far less self absorbed than going with an. 'identity'.

I have a strong sense of what I like and enjoy wearing. I am either moving around like a giant bouncy ball or lounging on the sofa, so movement and comfort is key.

I have always loathed formal wear and restrictive clothing.

I like 100% cotton, big trainers and colourful sweatshirts with a pair of blue jeans.

I wear tinted moisturiser, mascara and blusher. I have sallow skin and people always ask if I'm ill without it.

I am genuinely happy with myself and enjoy 'dressing up' every day. I don't need anyone to tell me I look confident and happy in my own skin.

Interestingly, I started a style & beauty thread here about my trip to the barbers and I got quite few insults, along the lines of "I don't want to look like a man".

I don't give a fuck but I was surprised at how many women define themselves by a self-perceived notion of femininity.

Some very interesting posts, especially about current teenage fashion.
I was watching a Year 6 end of year show the other day, and it struck me that all the girls playing female roles were wearing heels and strong makeup. It wasn't stage makeup, and I know this because none of the boys had makeup. The girls playing male or non/gendered roles also had makeup. It's the heels that jumped out at me, like it's a signifier for adult woman.
To me, it felt a little uncomfortable to watch all these 11 year olds tottering around in heels, especially when I know their own mums live in trainers.

So you perceive height as something to be valued

So why do so many women wear the same things. What’s the fashion industry about.

Regarding trans there’s an age in later life where both sexes can look fairly similar ( as do babies). It’s always the trans women that look like caricatures in wigs and make up though.
I agree with the poster that says drag is a piss take of women but there’s no equivalent for transmen. Where are all the beards, hairy chests and backs on transmen for example.

Transmen tend to look “unfeminine” and anti sexual judging by those pride photos. Contrast with the overly sexualised trans women.

I totally mean this, I never thought of it like that good point

Not changed. I adore clothes and I've been falling out with (some) feminists all my life about it.

Goodness, not at all! I wear some makeup everyday, like dresses and dress up to go out. I’m not planning to change in any way and am happy with who I am. Nothing for me to prove here.

No, I generally wear less makeup because I'm getting older and more comfortable in my own skin, not because of the growing trend of men pretending to be women.
But I like nice dresses and makeup, and men wearing them still look like men, from a mile off!

I think woman’s high heels serve the same effect as pointe shoes. It’s that appearance of balance and grace.

Height is definitely valued in males though as a physical trait.

No, not at all.

What I do find myself balking against, is the overdone "Love Island" version of femininity thats so prevalent at the moment - the excessive lashes, hair extensions, cheek fillers and overfilled lips, long painted nails and skimpy clothes....to me thats bordering on drag and is not something I like.

No. Not at all.

I don't dress like an AGP, and an AGP doesn't dress like me.

I have also observed subtle changes in teenage fashion that to me seem to be a bit of a push-back against the ultra-feminine, artificial look - wide cargo pants, little make-up, crop tops

Aka late 90s and early 00s fashion which is back in currently.

What about the women who do like it though? A woman is still a woman however they dress, sure if women feel pressured to do x, y and z then that's a shame, but it feels weird to be so judgemental of a look. There's nothing wrong with women owning their version of femininity, and there's nothing wrong with that being short hair and baggy clothes or make up and dresses.

I think your move towards casual attire / less make up is part of a general post pandemic shift personally and nothing to do with the current gender climate.

Yes, because you have internalised a set of social standards and judge yourself if you fall below them.
not blaming you for this - we all do it to some degree - but the vehement insistence you’re “doing it for you” looks a little silly.

No, because I am happy in makeup every day, dresses when not at gym. (Dresses at the gym would be tricky 😃)

But that’s just my thing, and I’m really sad about the gender stereotyping associated with this whole movement.

Eurgh how condescending.

Hi Jigslaw, I agree with you. I was just answering the OPs question in the context of what I like and how I dress / make up for myself - purely a personal response that applies only to myself.

I'm sometimes slightly self conscious in the fact I probably atm look like I am a 'stereotypical' ftm/nb -identified individual due to currently having short unnaturally coloured hair, piercings and a flat chest. Plus I live in alternative style/baggy clothes and have never really done dresses/skirts.

But in reality I am a GC woman whose hair is currently growing back out due to past chemo treatment, I had to have a double mastectomy to save my life and have had my piercings/bright hair for 20+ years.

Weirdly though I haven't been misgendered and only once asked my pronouns by a couple of young teen girls I was helping at work.