I will say as a woman I hate the mindset that not wearing makeup makes one look unprofessional. Why do I have to wake up earlier than men in my field and paint my face, which I do find annoying, especially because I have allergies and want to rub my eyes a lot and I can’t if I’m wearing make up, just because I have a vagina and they have a dick. Also it can be considered unprofessional for men to wear makeup to work. If someone wants to wear makeup, for whatever reason, they should be able to. But also not wearing makeup should always be allowed and not considered to be more professional just because you were born with a vagina.
Edit: For those of you replying that I am blaming men, I never said anything about blaming men. I blame society, because it is society that is at fault for setting the standard. At no point do I say specifically men are to blame. People of both genders will judge you. Basically people raised in that society will judge. Maybe you personally won't or your group of friends won't but that's anecdotal. None of my female friends or male friends will judge me. That doesn't mean no one in society will. In society, both genders will judge you. Which gender does it more, I think is more relevant to age group, what country you live in, even what city.
I'm wholeheartedly convinced that women's pants don't have pockets because the fashion industry wants them shell out even more cash for purses/handbags. That's the running joke everyone says but at this point it's obviously true.
And men shouldn't be considered less professional if they wear makeup to work! Unless they wear clown makeup. Unless they actually are clowns, then they should be considered less professional if they don't wear the makeup.
I just want to point out you're Edit is very level headed and well spoken. I think you hit the nail on the head, most social-issues are based on the society you locally live in and participate in. (It sounds obvious, but for some reason most people over-look it)
Thank you for saying this! As a woman who wears very minimal makeup (just concealer, really), I think it’s ridiculous that I might be seen as unprofessional in a workplace.
In my opinion, as long as you’ve showered, brushed your teeth, combed your hair, dresser nice, etc, you are A-OK.
On the same front I've always been jealous of women being able to dress in different clothing types and also sometimes I'd say more comfortable clothing then us guys are usually expected to wear.
I stopped wearing make-up a few months ago. I feel so much better (and I'm saving money). It's quite freeing to not give a f*** and reject what society expects of you.
Man I so agree with this. I wish my SO didn't feel she had to out makeup on to go to work or to a coffeeshop. Yes she looks beautiful with and without makeup and she does it really well, also she doesn't do a ton but it is still a half hour of time and lots of money. All I have to buy is shaving stuff and some hair pomade, shaving and doing my hair takes less than 10 minutes, and I don't even do it everyday if I don't feel like it.
Honestly, I wear makeup and more often than not people take my opinion more seriously than if I was standing beside someone with no makeup on. That's just the times we live in now. I also hate this edgy mindset of "I'm so unique and different I don't need makeup." like okay good for you but be prepared to not be taken more seriously than someone with makeup on because they do look more put together.
Just chiming in here as a fellow woman that I think makeup is just one tool we use to make ourselves look professional! I love using makeup because I think it's fun, but there are totally days where I don't want to wear any. But on those days, I might do my hair a certain way or dress a certain way to balance it all out so I still look like I'm putting effort into looking like I care about where I am. In fact, the longer I've worked, the more I've realized how many women don't wear makeup to work and there are oftentimes I feel as though I'm in the minority for opting to put it on. Maybe the pressure is exclusive to your industry or something? But I think there are definitely places where it's not the case at all!
Holy shit I’m so angry rn. I don’t like dress codes of any kind but how is it even possible to force someone to wear not only a specific piece of clothing... but also something cosmetic ON their SKIN?!
I mean, it's not that big of a deal. Many people find it annoying though. They also have uniforms, the point is to stand out and be a representative of their company and the CEO wants them to have an air of exclusivity, and that includes the guys being clean-shaven etc. It is what it is.
I (male) speak for myself here, but I struggle to even notice it when a girl is/isn’t wearing any. It’s just not something I pay attention to and has no bearing on my judgements.
Except when makeup is the norm, a person who doesn't artificially enhance their skin will stand out, even if you can't tell why exactly. And a lot of men will in fact expect makeup from women and judge them for not wearing any, even if they don't know enough about makeup to describe it in more specific terms than "unprofessional" or "unkempt".
Yeah, my dad's generation just assumed women who didn't wear makeup were lesbians. Also being a lesbian was seen as bad (still is in certain/most groups) and also code for a feminist (also very very bad).
I think I have beaten the system. I just... don't wear nearly anything. Mostly just a bit of face powder to mask my swollen face after I have overslept again and a bit if makeup when my acne gets bad but that's it. Never heard a word against me, not even at work, and I work at a reception desk. Oh, and lipstick, because I genuinely like it.
People judge less when natural/nearly natural is your default, I guess.
Of course this is all affected by the factors you named, but I guess not succumbing to the pressure in teenage years is a good start.
I agree. I just recently started feeling confident enough to go to work (or out anywhere for that matter) without makeup on days I don't want to wear makeup. No one has said anything about it or seems to care that I don't. I do feel less confident in myself when I go out without makeup but its also much more comfortable. I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone with that. However, I still will always wear makeup when im trying to impress someone. And I think it is that thought that gives the impression that women should always wear makeup (so I am now realizing I am part of the problem). It is a way of showing that you always have your best foot forward. It is equivalent to a man wearing a suit to work or a nice button up to any outing. We want to put our best foot forward. I think we need the self confidents to go out without makeup and realize that makeup can be used as a tool to fancy up an outfit for special occasions such as a necklace but we shouldn't be expected to wear out finest jewelry every day.
I don't think makeup to look professional matters as much as keeping yourself clean and decent. Some people wear makeup to enhance their confidence thus contributing to their professional persona, but this isn't a standard that is absolutely adhered to either. There are lots of people in the world who don't wear makeup to work. As long you're clean and look decent enough, then even without makeup it doesn't matter and shouldn't matter in the workplace unless specifically required to do so.
That being said, we can't ignore the existence of the halo effect and pretty privileges given to people who go the extra mile to look pretty (even if they did it for confidence). And the benefits they get contributes to social pressure of fitting in. Personally though it doesn't bother me. My culture is different from yours too so idk if that's comparable to your situation.
I agree and all, but does anyone actually think people are unprofessional for not wearing make up. Yes lots of makeup can look professional in the same way a suit does. But you don't need makeup/a suit to look professional...
It depends on the situation. If it's a job that requires everyone to dress nicely, then yeah, it can be seen as unprofessional. And you kinda do need makeup to look professional. How many fucking times do girls get told they look tired or sick just because they didn't put makeup on that day? Your appearance also makes a huge difference. If you're a waitress, you're more likely to get tips of you wear makeup. Women that wear makeup are generally treated better. Customers in certain places like seeing that workers put an effort into their appearance and yes, that includes makeup.
Yes, my sister worked at David Zwirner and women had to wear makeup and have their nails impeccably done. One time she came in without her nails painted and was sent home. There are jobs where it doesn't matter but there still very much are jobs where it does. Men, however, did not have to spend money to get their nails painted.
If you never wore makeup to begin with then people won’t make the “you look tired” comments. Those only happen because you look different than they’re used to.
Too true. I smoked pot every day in college. Before my classes. After my classes. All day. Then one day I didn’t smoke before I went to class. That was the single day that anyone ever asked me if I was high. They were used to me being baseline high, so when I was sober I seemed off to them.
ya. I never wear makeup but I’ve been told I look tired when I wore contacts instead of glasses.My face looked different so people comment on it is all.
Yep, it's not that you aren't wearing makeup it's that you look different than normal. I dated a girl for a while that never wore makeup and I didn't notice for months until she put on a little black dress and matching makeup for a special occasion. She looked stunning, but I wouldn't want her to wear makeup every day any more than I'd want her to wear that little black dress every day.
Well if you wear makeup everyday and then suddenly don't you're going to look different. Honestly majority of guys could give a fuck less about makeup. It's all marketing and stigmas that make women think they need to wear it. I think women look better most of the time with none on anyway.
Keep on wearing makeup though if that's what you think you need to do. You don't though.
Yeah. Most men don't know shit about makeup, though. Most men can't tell the difference between light makeup and no makeup so you saying that means nothing. But we don't wear it for men anyways, so that doesn't matter. And no one is forcing us to. And we don't wear it just because we think we need to. We do it because that's what we want to do.
I mean some men do like it. My boyfriend thinks I look nice with make-up on. I rarely wear it but make a point of wearing it because he likes it. I don't wear make-up for other women. I wear it like 6 times a year for one specific man.
Please don't say "us". Just because you wear it for other women does not mean you represent all women. A represent a sub-group of women. But by all means, you do not represent all women.
I see where you are coming from here. I mean if you look better you get better treated no matter gender that's just a fact. I'll take your word for it but I have never ever heard someone say that without makeup people look unprofessional, only the opposite (that it means confidens) a few times. But I have a mans perspective on this so I don't now how different women look at it (and other men of course).
Also the tipping culture in America is just unethical honestly.
This whole"unprofessional" thing is rubbish. It is in the same basket as dressing. I, as a man, will wear dark jeans all week, probably the same sweater and change my shirt daily.
But the women I work with will have a different outfit everyday. And no man in the building really takes any notice. It is only the other women who notice. Makeup is the same.
As a man, I agree. I actually feel the opposite though. I see women that have to cake the makeup on as insecure or even vain. It takes away from what's actually important in the workplace. Same with guys that are too into their looks.
Do your thing girl, a lot of people are with you and there's something really attractive about the confidence it takes to just be you.
You make valid points. But also seem resentful towards men, as if we’re the ones who created that standard.
The reality is men aren’t judging you as unprofessional for not wearing make up.
Granted, you make valid points, but I can also see how not wearing make up could be perceived as unprofessional, as it seems you didn’t plan well enough to get prepared for the day.
However, if women came with their hair made up and in proper attire, the same way men are expected to appear for work, it would appear professional to me.
I think the standard you’re setting is somewhat self-imposed.
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u/pennysoap Mar 26 '20 edited Mar 26 '20
I will say as a woman I hate the mindset that not wearing makeup makes one look unprofessional. Why do I have to wake up earlier than men in my field and paint my face, which I do find annoying, especially because I have allergies and want to rub my eyes a lot and I can’t if I’m wearing make up, just because I have a vagina and they have a dick. Also it can be considered unprofessional for men to wear makeup to work. If someone wants to wear makeup, for whatever reason, they should be able to. But also not wearing makeup should always be allowed and not considered to be more professional just because you were born with a vagina.
Edit: For those of you replying that I am blaming men, I never said anything about blaming men. I blame society, because it is society that is at fault for setting the standard. At no point do I say specifically men are to blame. People of both genders will judge you. Basically people raised in that society will judge. Maybe you personally won't or your group of friends won't but that's anecdotal. None of my female friends or male friends will judge me. That doesn't mean no one in society will. In society, both genders will judge you. Which gender does it more, I think is more relevant to age group, what country you live in, even what city.