Comments on: Because You’re Worth It. Really.

By: Put the Oxygen Mask on Yourself First - The Pursuit of Harpyness

Put the Oxygen Mask on Yourself First - The Pursuit of Harpyness — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:03:58 +0000

[...] I’ve been seeing and hearing it quite a bit lately, and it’s typically aimed at women (I see it on ads, websites, and channels targeted to women, anyway). On the surface, it seems like a good thing; it is of course intended to counteract the years of conditioning to shut up, sit down, scoot over, take the smaller piece of pie, smile and look pretty, et cetera, et cetera. This message is also usually intended to get you to buy something. Y’know, ‘cause you deserve it. [...]

By: Linkage « Marjorie Rodrigues

Linkage « Marjorie Rodrigues — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:34:35 +0000

[...] justamente ser inatingível). E sobre o quanto esta magreza é desproporcional. – Sobre salto alto, sobre cosméticos e sobre como todo mundo está no balaio do patriarcado (em inglês. Os três são partes de uma [...]

By: PhDork

PhDork — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:55:30 +0000

To all: thanks for all the comments and compliments. Welcome to the newbies, fond waves to the familiar.

Just a thought, though. I’m hearing a lot of “I’m too lazy” to use makeup or whatever. Okay. I’d be a lot happier to hear “I like the way I look without it so much that I can’t be bothered.” It’s kind of the same idea, no?

By: nanzee

nanzee — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:37:44 +0000

I used to believe in make up and all that it implies. About 20 years ago I noticed that if I didn’t put it all on I could sleep about half an hour later in the mornings. Perhaps because I live in a less-than-cosmopolitan, rural area, no one seemed to notice the change. My skin is much happier without stuff on it.
I did start coloring my hair when I decided that the gray made me look tired. Lots of money and trouble no matter whether I do it myself or pay someone to do it for me. And sometimes the outcome is truly strange, as in orange. I’m trying to evolve to the point of not needing to cover the gray. It would be nice to think that all of this could really be a choice for some women instead of an obligation that has to be overcome.

By: Bekka

Bekka — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:27:19 +0000

I dye my hair blonde (as well as black, pink, red, blue or whatever colour I feel like. These days I like it blonde)
I put on make up before I go out.
I wear a push-up bra.
I like to wear dresses.
I love buying shoes.
I also have piercings and tattoos.

These things make me happy. I don’t dress up and look and look pretty for anyone but me. I’m aware of how superficial it all is, I take a shower and my “beauty” washes away. I still pretty with no make up though.

I don’t work on appearance for anyone’s viewing pleasure but my own. Others can appreciate my appearance, but they had best not expect it of me. There are times I go out with no make up and my hair simply pulled into a pony tail and I feel just as liberated as when I spend time doing my makeup.

I get your point though, I just don’t feel opressed when I wear makeup.

a sidenote though…a light pinky-peach colour will probably work better to cover up dark circles if you’re truly worried about them.

By: cuileann

cuileann — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:08:05 +0000

I have been wishing I could hear someone say this for so long. THANK YOU.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:50:18 +0000

Also, “teeth-coloured teeth” made me laugh. Mine are as teeth-coloured as they come.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:47:39 +0000

Thankfully, the whole makeup thing stopped being a big deal for me in the middle of highschool. I wore it every day in grade 9 and 10, and then towards the end of grade 10, I woke up one morning, looked at myself in the mirror, and thought “I’m adorable! I don’t need makeup!” Now I only wear it for extremely special occasions (formals, weddings, etc). Being naturally covered in freckles helps – my skin tone was never meant to be even! So why bother?

By: oldfeminist

oldfeminist — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:24:25 +0000

Blondegrlz: “My problem is my “natural” beauty is covered in pimples. And has invisibly blond eyelashes. And huge pores. And those damn dark circles.”

I hear ya, I’m a natural blonde with superblonde superinivisible eyelashes and eyebrows, too. But I gave up everything except lipstick a little over a month ago, and hardly anyone has even noticed.

Women’s skin is physically thinner than men’s, so it’s more likely to show any inherent discoloration and unevenness. But we prize “ruggedness” in men, so for example a guy with severely acne-scarred skin isn’t considered a total freak (Edward James Olmos), as a comparable woman would be.

By: Iris Chamberlain

Iris Chamberlain — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:28:32 +0000

@mkp-hearts-nyc – I totally relate. I’ve had a lot of trouble being confident of my identity because I’m so damn genderqueer, but I really do feel like a failed woman because I have no clue about makeup, and when I attempt to use it I end up smearing it all over the place.

@PhDork – really I’ve never heard anyone explain the situation with such wit! You are truly my new feminist hero, probably along with every new author I discover on this blog. I really relate to the internal conflict. I hate the whole beauty myth but at the same time I’m a victim of it. I hardly ever wear makeup except when I go out to shows (because the theatrical aspect is neat and I always look better in the pictures). But I worry quite a bit about how fat I look.

The thing that drives me NUTS is discovering NEW things to worry about. For example as Kivrin said, “uneven skin tones” (?!?!) or badly trimmed eyebrows or all kinds of nitpicky stuff. Every time I hear a new one I really freak out because I imagine that a lot of women are probably judging me in ways I didn’t even know existed!

I’ve really been meaning to blog all of this myself but this is as far as I’ve got so far: http://obifferson.blogspot.com/2008/11/nail-polish-is-oppressive-tool-of.html

This Harpy blog has really made me realize that I kind of want to grow up to be you guys. I think.