This really made me think about how much time I spend in my life-potentially productive time-"acting" the feminine role. I wear make-up almost every day, that's at least 20 minutes. I stereotypically love shopping for clothes (no seriously, it's a problem). At this point I'm pretty sure that love sprang from my desire to present myself to society in a gender appropriate way. I like "feminine" things. My questions is do I like them because I like them, or because I am so practiced in and accustomed to them?
Also, it really makes me cringe when I think about women's status as sexual objects. Let's face it, that's why a lot of us wear make up in the first place-to tell the world "I am a woman" we internalize the message that our job is to sexually appealing. If we are not, there are distinct social consequences. Here's a little confirmation that sexism is still alive and well:
And you should see this, it's Maxim's guide to curing a feminist.
Also, here is a great little snippet of news about the Wisconsin legislature's participation in the GOP war on women. http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/03/23/wisconsin-lawmaker-you-are-being-beaten-just-remember-things-you-love-about-your-?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rhrealitycheck+%28RHRealityCheck.org%29
Hey Candace,
ReplyDeleteI too, am an avid make up lover. And, I too have struggled with if I am playing a role or if I do it because I like it. Through this internal discourse, I realized that make up is the only art that I feel I can successfully accomplish. And while sure, I did start wearing make up in middle school because I wanted to feel like a woman, now I use makeup as a small yet significant (to myself) form of artistic expression.
Anyway, I'm not saying that's the case with everybody AT ALL, I'm just expressing my similar struggle.
See you Monday!
Honestly, in my more "immature" days I would have looked at this picture and probably snicked a little, but now I look at it in disgust. It seems as though in a perfect male world, women would just sit down, be quiet and just be something for a man to look at and idolize over. Seriously, who came up with the idea for porcelain lipstick stained lips for a urinal? To sum it up, it's just another form of degradation.
ReplyDeleteThe make up thing.
ReplyDeleteSo, everyone knows that I have short hair. This last time, my hair lady cut it super short.
I was talking to my mom about it and I told her that I have been wearing extra make up and trying to dress more girlie because of it.
Is that wrong?
I like being a girl. I like wearing dresses and make up. AND, I like doing it sometimes for my boyfriend.
Another thought- the reading talked about the piercing of an infants ears as perpetuating this need to define womanhood. But me and my sister both were "pierced" at 6 months, and I want to continue the tradition for my own daughter someday.
Is that wrong?
Finally, I think that urinal is really kind of funny. I can't help it, I am a sucker for dirty humor.
Is that wrong?
I don't think I really care if any of these are "wrong."
Ladies: I also enjoy make-up and the feminine experience. I was doing more of a self-reflection on how gender norms have had an influence, not necessarily vilifying that expression.
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