rabbit_write_08 (mp3 download 1.75mb)
A make-up tutorial video done in reverse while I attempt to answer the question: why do women wear makeup?
Overview:
Why do women wear make-up? I wear and enjoy make-up. In one sense, it is a way to express yourself, your mood and your interior life. I love the whole transformation process and I an a fan of the ability we have to change our masks, especially with a key as transient & in the moment as make-up.
Part of the reason that women wear make-up might actually be biological. There was a study done that had men rate how beautiful women were–with and without make-up. The men consistently chose the women with make-up as more beautiful. Except when the women were ovulating–then men couldn’t tell a difference.
Ovulation is the human equivalent of “going into heat” it is when can get pregnant and our sneaky bodies are doing everything they can to help that happen. So along with a spiked sex drive, we also become more beautiful at ovulation. Our skin gets clearer, lips fuller and eyes more sparkly; kinda like you are wearing make-up. So the theory goes that because human’s don’t go into heat– we can have sex whenever we want– make-up has evolved as women’s way to attract males, making them think that we are in heat. It’s a biological magic trick.
But perhaps the biggest reason is cultural. I found a study online that claimed 8 out of 10 women prefer their female colleagues to wear makeup and the same number of women said they would rather employ a woman who wore makeup than one who didn’t. This might be about not rocking the boat. Since it is socially accepted that women paint their faces day in and day out, we’re not going to like those who buck against the norm.
Because of these very strong social ideas about make-up, I think most of us don’t naturally have a healthy relationship with our cosmetic cases. I think the majority of us feel like we NEED make-up. And as long as there is not a real feeling of choice there it’s not okay. So I challenge you to explore that relationship with make-up.
The heart of this isn’t just learn ro love yourself without make-up, learn that you are beautiful without it. The core of this is realizing that your real value and what you bring to relationships, to life is not your looks.
8 Comments
I agree with this whole thing. It is how I have felt about makeup my entire life, as far as cultural norms and and biology go.
As a preference, maybe I am different, or have a built in bias? I don’t know, but I have always preferred women with no makeup on. I used to think it was because I like “au-natural” so much, but it turns out, even boob jobs can be fun to play around with. So, I don’t know. Maybe, it’s the girls who put waaaayy too much on? I have been told by some they are wearing makeup and I didn’t even notice, and I thought they looked really nice.
Hmmm.. I am just now thinking about all this, haha..
This is a really good video, Rabbit. I applaud,– it helps to clarify a lot, in my own thinking.
Justin,
I agree that there is something very alluring about a woman without make-up. I think that as a face covered in color is the norm, we are going to be drawn to a naked face just because it is rare. It is something we aren’t supposed to see, and that makes it sexy.
Also, as make up becomes tied to fashion, it is less about biology and looking attractive and more about style, looking edgy or conjuring a certain mood or daydream. This could also potentially make it less sexy.
It’s funny because most of the men I know prefer women without makeup. I’ve never felt that I needed it, but it’s an enhancement for a night out on the town. However I do know women that do feel that they look better with makeup and I know women that never wear it. The cultural pressures are certainly a big factor in why women wear it. The pressure to look and feel attractive to the opposite and same sex.
Your video is working just fine for me (and I love it)! Most of the men I know say they prefer women without makeup, but what they seem to mean is that they prefer women without crazy makeup that makes them look unnatural. When they see a woman wearing “natural” makeup, they don’t seem to know that she is wearing any, and think she looks pretty good. So perhaps makeup works in that biological way when it is used to enhance the natural features that make a woman attractive, rather than as a fashion tool?
.-= Miss Peregrin´s last blog ..Musical Interlude =-.
“Our skin gets clearer, lips fuller and eyes more sparkly; kinda like you are wearing make-up.” I both never knew ovulation was linked to why and sort of did!
thanks Rachel!
That is like ZING gap filled
I love how perfect the real shape/details of eyes and lips look without make-up, I think moving away from ‘which is better?’ unnecessary question, and rather sitting with the difference and exploring it has been a good direction for me.
That is REALLY interesting! I personally never wear makeup.. this was a great video. Thank you.
.-= sui´s last blog ..3 poems to brighten your life =-.
Clearly I’m raising my daughter TOO well. She’s almost 10, and overheard me watching your (CLEVER!) video. Not realizing your point of the video, she heckled you the whole time for buying into societal norms. She’s felt this way especially after watching the documentary “America the Beautiful.” She commented that you finally said something that made sense at the very end of the vid.
I wear makeup about twice a week, when my looks are needed for an event, such as when I’m on a hot date with my man and I want others to laud him (he prefers I don’t wear makeup) or when I figure model.
The idea that makeup mimics ovulation is a new and interesting idea to me. It figures that others prefer others to wear makeup. Conformity is so comfy and safe. It means you have to think less!
I’m posing this question on fb and twit today, thanks!
I think it depends on the makeup women are using. As a male I don’t go for the spak filler face f(Australian term meaning you ‘fill and plaster every blemish you can see’) and heavy ‘stuff’ plastered everywhere.
Light makeup is ok. I personally love eyeliner, and my wife is addicted to it and was so since before we met. So I think it depends on what makeup you are using. The first time I saw my wife without makeup she was, as a goth, very nervous and shy. Her sister kept saying to ‘not worry about it’ as it was bound to happen sooner or later. I must say, she was very sexy without makeup. It was as if ‘a facade had been dropped’ and I got to see her as a real person. It made her even more desirable to me; not that I don’t love fire engine red lipstick and liquid eyeliner, but it was another facet of her that attracted me.
You are right though, it seems to be an accepted convention that women SHOULD wear makeup in order to ‘make themselves look perfect’ for their prospective ‘whoever’ and that if you don’t wear makeup then you ‘dont care about your appearance’.
Interestingly, during the 1700′s and earlier, it was ONLY MEN that wore makeup. Women didn’t do so unless you were an aristocratic. Women’s dominance of the ‘makeup market’ is only really an 18th and 19th century thing.
Interesting article Rabbit…. oh,
Were you ovulating during the making of this video?
Peter
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