Despite the pop-song cliche that women are beautiful “just the way they are,” this often does not mean they are beautiful just as they wake up in the morning.
Rather, it means they are beautiful when they look like they’re not wearing any makeup to even out their skin tone, pink up their lips, and make their eyelashes unnaturally long.
The goal of makeup is to look like you’re not wearing any at all, resulting in confusing compliments like, “You don’t need makeup. You’re perfect as you are,” even when the women they are speaking to have makeup on.
These comments assume that every ounce of foundation or dab of lip gloss is put on for the male gaze, ignoring the millions of other motivations someone might have for putting it on.
Makeup can be empowering, but when it’s suggested that women wear makeup only to please men, and never for any intrinsic motive, putting makeup on can feel like being a pawn of the patriarchy.
Put on makeup, but not too much. It has to look natural. What’s disturbing is the assumption of an even facial skin tone being normal when it’s not. Imperfections are actually the norm.
The fact is, whatever reason a person chooses to wear makeup, regardless of gender, is valid.
Whether it’s to celebrate your femininity, cover up a blemish or look good for someone else, all reasons are legitimate.
While people like to debate whom people wear makeup for, ultimately that is not important.
What’s wrong is when people feel like they have to wear makeup to be accepted by others or to look professional.
Our culture tells cisgender men that when they wake up, they are ready to go; women need makeup, but not too much, lest it look “caked on.”
Forced to deal with constant cultural scrutiny, women are accused of either wearing too much or not enough makeup.
Women are put down for the amount of time they take to get ready, but putting on a full face of makeup takes time and skill.
In an ideal world, all women would wear the amount of makeup that makes them happy, but there is a certain pressure to wear it to look “put together.”
Makeup should be just another part of dressing up or a way of pampering yourself, like a day at the spa. It should not, however, be an expectation, or considered a professional requirement.
Makeup can be a self-esteem booster, an expression of femininity, a way to show off skill or a myriad of other things.
Reasons for wearing or not wearing makeup are as diverse as people themselves.
Nicole Dan is a UF political science sophomore. Her column appears on Tuesdays.
[A version of this story ran on page 6 on 7/14/15]
