fierceawakening:

funereal-disease:

I feel like the “makeup is oppressive” crowd and the “makeup is empowering” crowd are referring to two completely different concepts, and it would be helpful to tease them out.

I think those who claim the former are thinking of the “no-makeup makeup” that a lot of women are pressured into wearing just to look presentable. Foundation, concealer, etc. And if we’re talking about that, then I actually agree! There is nothing wrong with wearing it if you want to, but it’s fucked that anyone should be expected to change the way their skin looks just to be considered a respectable member of society. This kind of makeup is also more about adhering to a certain baseline than about expressing yourself creatively, which I imagine must be exhausting: who wants to spend half an hour in front of the mirror only to look like you haven’t done anything at all? 

On the other hand, those who claim the latter are thinking of very obvious makeup. Of plummy lips and winged liner and dramatic contouring. If we’re talking about that? Then no, I don’t agree that that’s oppressive. No one spends hours bluing sparkles to their fingernails because they want to fit in with the status quo. That kind of makeup is a very deliberate artistic statement, and it’s demeaning to elide the differences between it and the baseline makeup people wear just to fit in. 

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