Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!amd!decwrl!decvax!ittvax!anderson From: anderson@ittvax.UUCP (Scott Anderson) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: makeup Message-ID: <1463@ittvax.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-Aug-84 23:09:54 EDT Article-I.D.: ittvax.1463 Posted: Tue Aug 14 23:09:54 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 18-Aug-84 00:08:32 EDT Lines: 80 [en garde!] I don't mind generalizations about why women wear makeup, but let's be careful about judging the person underneath. I'm referring to aspertions about "flaws in personality." Anyhow, here are why the women *I* know wear makeup. I. Dress code My SO (Ann) wears some makeup to the office, usually rather unobtrusive. I think she feels it's "part of the uniform": she puts on her makeup when she puts on her suit. We all know that there are times when certain garb is expected (either officially or unofficially); think of makeup as part of the dress code. Dress codes are mutable, but only into other dress codes, because most people feel uneasy when they have complete freedom to dress. (How many times have you wondered what other people will be wearing at some gathering, so that you can dress accordingly? I have, many times.) And as long as there are dress codes should/ought to be changed, so that women's skin can be preserved or whatever, but we'll only be exchanging one dress code for another. II. Fun When we go out for a fancy evening (I'm wearing a suit, she a long dress), Ann spends a long time putting on makeup, and not unobtrusive office-wear stuff. We're talking bright and flashy; we're talking GLITTER. Partly, it's because she has a streak of exhibitionist in her, and on evenings like this she'll dress in BRIGHT reds and other look-at-me colors. Partly, it's because she thinks it's FUN. That's right: she'll look at herself in the mirror, smile at the effect and say, "isn't that FUN!" Partly, it's artistic expression, with her face the canvas. You might say all that stuff is hiding the "real" Ann, but I'd counter that being bright and glittering IS @i(part) of the "real" Ann. Besides, if she enjoys it, why shouldn't she do it? [Aside to JAM: I can think of several occasions when I've "gone for that special place on the side of the neck between ...." and come up with glitter on my own cheeks. And y'know, I didn't mind a bit. :-) ] III. Looking your best My sister spends a LOT of time on makeup, and she always comes out looking like a minor goddess. She thinks it's important to look her best, and she associates with people who have high standards for personal appearance. (I was going to say "judge people by their appearance," but we ALL do that. It's just that we do it to varying degrees, with different standards.) She reads all the fashion magazines, has impeccable taste in almost everything, and dates as much as she wants. Many of us would be envious of her. If you asked me if she spent too much time on appearance versus, say, studying (she's a college student); I'd say yes. But it's HER choice, and her grades are fine. If you asked me if PART of her motivation was insecurity (about her popularity and/or appearance), I'd say yes. But only PART. And I think that part is too bad. If you asked me if she was shallow and knew nothing of life except clothes and makeup, I'd say NO. She's bright, interesting and sensitive. IV. Conclusion Neither my SO nor my sister are shallow people, yet they both wear makeup at times. They are both worth getting to know as people (hunh? oh, yeah, them). So don't assume that a makeup- wearer is vain, silly, and shallow. That MAY be the case. But probably not. Don't judge a book by its cover, or by whether or not it has a paper jacket over the cover. Can anyone think of more reasons why women wear makeup? Scott D. Anderson decvax!ittvax!anderson 203-375-0200 X 451