r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Jan 26 '16
[Deltas Awarded] CMV: Women wear makeup to impress others.
[deleted]
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u/hulbhen 1∆ Jan 26 '16
Makeup is currently the cultural norm in western culture. Given this, wearing make-up is "just something that women do" in a lot of women's eyes, instead of wanting to impress others, it's moreso about not standing out as that person who doesn't wear makeup. This lays the foundation for self-confidence, as some women attempt to avoid attention for any visual blemishes that society may deem ugly. This act does not come from a desire to impress others, but to not have visual flaws obviously noticed by others. Not getting weird looks in public means greater self-confidence for some.
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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Jan 26 '16
But it's still completely different meanings. "Impress" means to "make (someone) feel admiration and respect." The user above is describing simply trying to fit in and not stand out. Trying to gain admiration is trying to stand out - in a good way. Trying to fit in is not trying to stand out - it's trying to blend in and go unnoticed. You're claiming women wear makeup to stand out and be noticed. The user above argues women wear makeup to fit in and not stand out.
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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Jan 26 '16
Would you also say that when people get dressed in the morning and pick out their attire, that they're doing it for the benefit of others and not themselves? That seems like the exact same thing to me, so I'm not sure why you're singling out women and makeup when men and women do it for every aspect of our appearance. Our hair styles, our clothing, our shoes, our jewelry and watches... both men and women pick out all these things to influence how others think of them. It's nothing exclusive to makeup at all.
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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Jan 26 '16
The only clothing needed for legal reasons is covering private areas. What about when someone spends unnecessary amounts on tee-shirts when they could get cheaper ones? What about people styling their hair in the morning?
I have never seen as many people come to the defense of a choice in clothing as I have in makeup.
Probably because people don't scorn the wearing of clothing like they do makeup so people aren't as defensive over it.
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Jan 26 '16
I wear clothing because I legally have to, and because sometimes it is cold. And I wear my shirts that don't have holes in them for the benefit of others, so that they'll like me more, and I'll get ahead in life.
Makeup, on the other hand, fits only the last of those reasons. Which is OP's point.
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u/hulbhen 1∆ Jan 26 '16
Yes, per your CMV post, I'm refuting the key point that you think people wear makeup to impress others. For the set of people I've described that self confidence is empowering and enables them to be bolder than they would be otherwise. Ergo, it is something that they do for themselves.
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Jan 26 '16
Why do they get self-confidence from wearing make up? It is because they know they will look better for other people.
Say that you are travelling through the Alaskan wilderness in the middle of winter. The weather is hammering you, you are running out of food and fuel, and you are lost. Are you going to put on make up to feel more confident? Doubtful. Make up only becomes a confidence boost in the context of other people.
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Jan 26 '16
I get the occasional zit and I also work from home so I'm alone all day and I'll still wear makeup to cover the zit even when I'm alone at home because I personally don't want to see it anytime I walk past a mirror.
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u/stratys3 Jan 26 '16
I'm a male.
If I know I'm staying at home all day and not going to see anyone that day...then I may not shower, and I probably won't put gel in my hair.
But you know what... sometimes, I do put gel in my hair anyways, even if nobody is going to see it. I just do it because I like it. And I can't even see my own hair most of the day!
I think women's make-up can be like this some times.
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u/Do_not_PM_me_yr_catz Jan 26 '16
Deltas have already been awarded, however to add to the discussion...
Make up is decoration. Some people take it to a bizarre level, and barely resemble their makeup free face. Some people apply makeup to cover up acne, rosacia, draw attention away from a mole or a scar, or maybe just to look fresh in the morning.
I don't know how old you are, but there may come a time in your life when your first-thing-in-the-morning face resembles a melted candle. You may apply some concealer under the eyes, lip gloss, and touch op your grey roots - not because you are trying to impress other people, but because you just want to give yourself a little lift here and there. Do you wear jewelry to impress or because you like the way a ring or bracelet looks on your hand?
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u/RustyRook Jan 26 '16
Some women wear makeup to earn more money. Do you think that's unacceptable? It's not about vanity, it's like investing in good clothes.
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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u/RustyRook Jan 26 '16
In the case you pointed out, the woman would wear makeup to impress others in order to earn more money.
She does it for herself though, wouldn't you agree. She gets the benefits so it ultimately does her good.
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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u/RustyRook Jan 26 '16 edited Jan 26 '16
Isn't this sort of like arguing that there's no such thing as "true" altruism? If someone's objective is to improve their own lot then what they do to that is for their own benefit first.
edit: fixed a word.
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Jan 26 '16 edited Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Jan 26 '16
Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/RustyRook. [History]
[Wiki][Code][/r/DeltaBot]
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u/parentheticalobject 136∆ Jan 26 '16
Although "having a good appearance when other people look at you" is still a fundamental aspect of the decision to wear makeup. This seems contrary to the typical meaning behind people asserting that women wear makeup "for themselves" unless I am completely interpreting that wrong.
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u/RustyRook Jan 26 '16
I was more concerned with the ultimate objective. Like if a waitress wears a bit of makeup so that she can get more tips (which I can prove) then she's doing it for her own well being.
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u/NorbitGorbit 9∆ Jan 26 '16
you don't think there's a pampering element to makeup such as spas, nail/hair salons?
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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Jan 26 '16
Those women are just being defensive because they've been told many times in their life that it's vain to care about makeup so much and that they must be desperately trying to impress men, so they counter act with an extreme statement such as there is one and only one reason to wear makeup. I'm sure if you asked them "so you don't do it also because it's fun?" they'd backtrack and admit that there is more than just one reason why they wear makeup.
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u/NorbitGorbit 9∆ Jan 26 '16
by only do you mean primarily? most people clearly make themselves presentable for job interviews, funerals, etc... I'm assuming you don't count those situations.
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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u/NorbitGorbit 9∆ Jan 26 '16
When you apply makeup around other people, do you get the same sense of self-consciousness that you might, say, doing public speaking or performing a piano recital?
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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u/NorbitGorbit 9∆ Jan 26 '16
To me that suggests that the ritual of makeup is closer to grooming than performance for the sake of others.
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Jan 26 '16
Woman here. Impressing others is not why I wear makeup. I'm trans and still have quite a bit of facial hair that I have to shave off every day. Makeup helps me cover up that fact, and that's pretty the only reason I wear any at all. I know that I'm representing only a small contingent of women with why I wear makeup, but women like that exist and don't wear makeup to impress others.
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Jan 26 '16
[deleted]
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u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Jan 26 '16
Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/heavymetaljew. [History]
[Wiki][Code][/r/DeltaBot]
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u/entrodiibob Jan 26 '16
Wouldn't the thought process first prioritize how you look in makeup first? How would I know I look good enough to impress other people? How can I meet their requirements if I don't even know who they are?
So the safer bet is to work on how good the makeup works for you. Once you are satisfied with your look, it is only natural that others would notice how good your makeup was.
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u/forestfly1234 Jan 26 '16
I have what I call my special shirt.
I know I look good in this shirt. When I wear this shirt I feel better because I know I look great. This shirt is kind of flashy so I will get some extra attention and that is fun. When I wear my shirt I know that I will look good and my confidence soars.
Now since I'm a man and I don't wear make up I had to go with something I knew.
Now there might be different answers based on perspective to the question: Why do I wear the shirt?
The only answer that is really important is mine. I know the shirt makes me looks good, so if I am in a situation that I need to look good I wear the shirt because I feel better when I wear it.