From: Cindy Blank-Edelman <uunet!mailrus!gatech!meshugge.media.mit.edu!cindy@ncar.UCAR.EDU>
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Lipstick
Date: 11 Sep 1992 00:43:43 GMT
Organization: M.I.T. Media Laboratory
Distribution: world
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NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu
Originator: muffy@remarque.berkeley.edu

Mik Bickis writes:

> I don't pretend to speak for all men, but I personally think this is a
> non-issue.  Whether or not a woman wears lipstick, or any other
> decorations, is irrelevant to me.  I would certainly never consider it
> a factor if I was interviewing her for a job, or had to deal with her
> as a colleague or student.  If I had any bias, it would be in favour
> of a woman who did *not* wear makeup, because that would tell me that she
> was less likely to be hung up about body-image problems, which, it
> seems, is still a great distraction for modern women.  But then, I
> am just revealing my personal preferences, which might not be
> typical for North American men.  Personally, I think women look
> better *without* make-up.  -

It's funny....I know a number of men who also say that they like the
way women look without make-up.  But those same men still are
attracted to heavily made-up models and actresses on TV or in
magazines.  (In fact, wasn't it you that expressed an appreciation for
"pin-ups"?)  This sends a contradictory message to women (who care
what men think about the way they look).  What do you think about
this?

> But, having said the above, if some women feel they have to or want to
> paint their faces, why is it such a big deal?  Does it really take
> *that* much time and expense?  Most men do shave every morning, which
> is no less of a cosmetic extravagance than putting on lipstick.  I
> shave my chin for no good reason except that I think (or more
> importantly, my wife thinks) that I look better with a bare chin.

Hmmm.  I don't think your shaving analogy quite works.  There is a
difference between trimming one's facial hair and adding completely
unnatural substances to one's face.  I can't pinpoint it exactly, but
I think this is a better analogy:

What if men wore fake mustaches and beards?  They could put them on in
the morning and take them off at night.  They could have different
colors to match their clothing or their moods.  They would be
expensive (say $25-$40), and need replacing at least once a year.
Although the fake beards make some attempt to look "natural" and
"highlight" men's natural features, everyone can easily tell that they
are fake, and in fact, men make no effort to conceal this fact.

(I would have brought up toupees, except that they are supposed to
look "natural", and I assume you don't need a lot of them.)

So, would fake beards and the like be an "extravagance"?  A non-issue?
Even if, eventually, all the men on TV and in the magazines had
beards?  Even if a man or two were fired because he refused to wear a
fake beard?

--Cindy Blank-Edelman
  (A woman who wears no make-up, but whose husband has a (real) beard.)


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