Make up: a topic of great controversy. Is it symbol of empowerment, or control? I remember, as a little girl, getting presents of “Claire’s” brand luminescent eye shadow, and sticky, glittery lip-gloss. As a tomboy, I hated the presents- in my opinion; they were both fiddly, and useless. Now, as an almost adult, one of favourite times of day is applying make-up in the morning. I watch tutorials to learn certain techniques, and get excited about the new releases of brands of lipstick, or eyeliner. Part of me wishes that I cared this much about make-up when I was younger; perhaps then I’d be more skilled than I am now. The two sides of the argument remain- are make up itself a positive force on the world? Or does it do more bad than good?
First, it is worth looking at the industry itself. The make up industry first began in the 1930’s, sold to women, so they could look like their favourite Hollywood starlets. It only grew from there, very quickly becoming a billion-dollar industry. Whilst there seems nothing wrong with this; it is important to recognise how the make up industry sells its products. A lot of adverts for make up profit, as well as many other products, profit off making the customers feel like, without the product, there is something ‘wrong’ with them. This, of course, is not true. Furthermore, girls and women are also often pressured to wear make up in both professional and social settings, as, the adverts suggest, they are not ‘pretty enough’ without it. Make up is seen as a feminine thing, and if a girl decides not to wear it, she’s unconsciously shamed for not being ‘girly enough’.
Of course, the argument can work the other way around. ‘Take her swimming on the first date’ trended as a hashtag a few weeks ago, accompanied with pictures of girls with and without make up. This suggests that by wearing make up, girls are, in fact, lying to boys about how attractive they are. Which is, of course, a ridiculous argument. Babies may have no concept of object permanence, but teenage boys and men certainly do. Furthermore, a lot of girls and women don’t wear make up to impress people, rather, they do it for themselves. Many teenage girls I know have equated sharp eyeliner, and the right shade of red lipstick, as battle armour. Make up may certainly be part of ridiculous societal gender rolls, but in being aware of this, and making a conscious decision to still wear it, because it makes you feel good, is certainly a more independent, and empowered decision.
One of the main reasons, however, why I, and why many other girls wear make up is merely because it’s enjoyable. It’s a fun toy for older children, and grown ups to play with. Many, especially professional make up artists, have called it a genre of artistic expression, which it certainly may well be. There are definitely problems within the make up discussion, but if it became socially acceptable for all genders to wear it- its symbol as an oppressive tool would quickly disappear. Hopefully, gender rolls will continue to be broken down, and we will one day find a society where make up is a form of enjoyment for all, and of control for no-one.
Image: http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/357411/file-709404375-jpg/Makeup_1.jpg?t=1421255277123
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