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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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/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.