Beauty
Makeup And The Stereotypes That Come With Those Who Wear it — Men & Women
History, Usage And The Perceptions That Tag Along
Makeup is a popular, daily ritual for many. It got mentioned in the ‘60s song ‘A little prayer for you’ written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick. I grew up hearing the version sung by Aretha Franklin. If you’ve not heard it, check it out:
Makeup comes in many forms, its purpose (or how it’s advertised) is to enhance the beauty of individuals.
It’s also used as a method of concealing imperfections such as acne scars, rosacea & hyper-pigmentation.
We’re going to look at the history of makeup, its usage and the perceptions which tag along with it!
Where did makeup originate from?
Archaeologists discovered evidence that the first usage of makeup took place in Ancient Egypt.
Lipstick was made from carmine beetles that were ground, as well as clay which was mixed with water to add colour to the lips.
A key cosmetic that was used was kohl, this was used by men and women to paint around their eyes hence why a lot of Egyptian artifacts have images of Pharaohs with this distinctive look.
Wearing makeup spread worldwide, kohl became popular in Persia, staining nails in China, wearing eyeliner known as kajal in India & so on. In some cultures this was a practice by both genders.
Perceptions towards those who use makeup
Both genders use makeup such as in the news & entertainment industry & is also a way of transforming into characters for fancy dress.
Social media has a huge influence on beauty & attitudes towards its standards and usage. However, it has a distasteful way of putting down famous people if they ‘dare’ to step out their home without makeup. I mean, sigh, showing your natural beauty shouldn’t be an issue should it?
On the other hand, it also tears up individuals who use ‘too much’ make up or who don’t ‘do it right’. These opposing views can lead many (initially teens) to become conflicted with their self-esteem to the point of embarrassment or fear of experimenting with makeup or not wearing any.
There has been a lot of research into cyber-bullying in particular appearance, a good example is this study.
With the fast-pace development of technology, a rise in cyber-bullying has occurred with everyday people mimicking ignorant comments towards celebrities and/or their peers.
The popularity of memes have found some people falling prey to being used for body shaming, including negative comments regarding their use or lack of use of cosmetics.
Ironically women who wear ‘too much’ makeup are seen as ‘clowns’, ‘wannabe drags’, or ‘ugly’ whereas some who choose not to wear makeup are also mocked & labelled ‘unattractive’, & not ‘feminine enough’.
Hence the rise of insecurity, the need for likes on social media and the higher usage of photo filters…
How can this be ended?
Celebrities such as Alicia Keys have made a stand to change attitudes towards women who don’t wear makeup. In 2016, she made a decision to stop wearing makeup.
“I did it because I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do. And I realized I became addicted to it; I didn’t feel comfortable without it.” — Alicia Keys, Glamour UK
Due to her realization, Alicia Keys launched a #NoMakeup social media campaign encouraging others to feel free in their own skin. She isn’t anti-make up and on occasion, you may find her wearing it but it helped to inspire others not to feel that they have to wear it as it’s a societal pressure especially on females.
But what about those who want to wear makeup and are teased or labelled because of it?
We’re going to look at men in this instance, singers such as AJ from Backstreet boys, Seal, Prince, Marilyn Manson, Steve Tyler & Boy George have been known to wear makeup. There is also the trend of nail polish wearing such as Snoop Dogg, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Brad Pitt and far more.
This is great for trend setters yet there is a huge gap with the average man.
UK attitudes to men wearing anything associated with women
The ordinary man unless he is perceived as a ‘goth’, will usually receive judgement from his peers, family & strangers in the UK.
For example, if a man decides to experiment with a bit of foundation & eye liner, he is at risk of being teased, in some instances, assaulted and labelled as ‘feminine’ and in other cases questioned about his sexuality.
This is outrageous and falls under a form of discrimination! A man’s sexuality or being in touch with his feminine side (as we all have masculine and feminine aspects to us) shouldn’t result in ill treatment. Not all men who are attracted to other men or those expressing their feminine side wear makeup, just like not all women are into using it.
There are obviously people who have preferences and we are all entitled to this, yet these shouldn’t dictate what others choose to do. Check out this street interview:
The stereotype that men should be masculine
Around the world, men are brought up to be masculine, to appear physically strong and dominant. Women are often portrayed as the ‘weaker’ race (rolls eyes) and therefore when a man comes across as feminine, he is seen as a ‘weaker man’. Really, have you heard of Laila Ali, Ann Wolfe or Ronda Rousey? They rock makeup and can smash up most competitors with their powerful skills.
Right back to men, the pressure on men to be masculine, can leave them out of touch with their feminine side. This may be depressing that they can’t be themselves as they have to conform to how society views them. Being in touch with femininity doesn’t automatically equate to wearing makeup, it may be that they are more nurturing & empathetic.
Comedian, writer, actor & mostly known as a television personality; David Walliams has addressed stereotypes of boys in the area of fashion with his book (which was made into a film); The boy in the dress to teach children and adults that curiosity and experimenting is part of human nature. This story gained popularity in UK schools.
Will Smith’s son, Jaden is someone known for wearing dresses and skirts as a fashion icon to further give confidence to men who are perhaps bored with the stereotypical way men are represented.
There are cosmetic brands which promote men wearing makeup by advertising products as ‘manscara’, ‘manliner’ etc. GQ have written an article addressing male grooming and this statement stood out:
I’ve been asked the question: Should men wear makeup? And every time, it’s the “should” that bothers me — beauty and grooming, like all things pertaining to vanity in this life, are rarely about “should” and “should not,” modals designed to instill shame or duty (or both).- Phillip Picardi
Final Thoughts
Makeup usage is an individual choice and is not gender biased.
We can change negative perceptions by raising awareness & taking out the modals ‘should’ & ‘shouldn’t’ when discussing who makeup is for.
Think of it as a tool for some, a way of feeling more confident (e.g. hiding skin conditions), an essential for work for others & an art of self-expression.
Whether you are an avid user of cosmetics, have thought about experimenting with it or not, do you!
Thanks for reading!
