Credit: Melissa Murphy |
If you are at all up-to-date with pop culture at the moment,
you've heard the term "catfishing." It's been popularized by a
documentary-turned-television show called "Catfish" in which two
film makers meet with young people who have engaged in online relationships
and embark on journeys to find out if these people do exist.
For further explanation if you still are confused, let's
refer to the ever-popular Urban Dictionary:
"A catfish is someone who pretends to be someone
they're not using Facebook or other social media to create false identities,
particularly to pursue deceptive online romances."
Now that we have the background set, let's talk about what
inspired me to write about this in relation to makeup. Recently, a makeup
artist posted a before and after photo of a woman on which she did a flawless
application, hair included. The photos made their way to Reddit where a war of
words began about how deceptive this is and how wearing this amount of makeup
could be considered, well, catfishing. You can read the lengthy Reddit thread
in its entirety here.
All I had to see were the words "makeup" and
"deceptive" in the same sentence and it set me off. Makeup and beauty
in general are clearly something I am extremely passionate about. (Hello,
that's why I blog!) I'm also passionate about teaching others the artistry
behind it. The intent behind makeup is to highlight and bring forward your best
attributes and features. I want every woman to feel like they're the best they
can be any day of the week, and if that requires a little concealer here and
there, so be it. That does not make you an incredibly shallow or insecure
person. I'd say I'm pretty damn comfortable with who I am and what I look like,
but why wouldn't I want to spruce myself up? Why wouldn't anyone?
The idea behind catfishing is to convince someone that you
are someone you are not.
The canvas is always the same with makeup. The natural features are there and the makeup is used to enhance them. I'm a little confused as to how this is considered a "transformation." Last time I contoured my cheeks with a little bronzer and
highlighted my lips, I'm pretty sure I was still the same person. I'm also
pretty sure everyone still recognized me and that my thought processes were the
same. I don't know. Since we're claiming that makeup you can buy at the
drugstore completely transforms people now, you tell me. I didn't have any
prosthetic pieces on my face, so yeah. It's me. By technical definition, makeup cannot be considering catfishing.
Let's talk about society and the perception of beauty.
I could sit on this topic for days, but I'm going to skip to
how it directly relates to this issue. Society has ideas on how each and every
one of you should look. Women are to look well-kept and flawless and if you
aren't? Shame on you. Women receive far more harsh criticisms than men in all
physical aspects and I don't even need statistical evidence to back that up.
You all know it's true. Recently there seems to be a phenomenon of men claiming
they like their women to look natural. (Drake, you take some of the blame for
this.) I'm a college graduate. I spent plenty of time in bars. I practically
double-majored in journalism and people watching. The girls the men gravitate
toward and attempt to pump drinks into are far from this natural state they say
they love. Nine times out of ten, according to the statistic I made up for this
post, the girl in sweatpants hair tied chillin' with no makeup on is not the
girl whose number you're after.
Take this quote for example:
"Makeup bothers me a great deal. It is a bit like game
only aimed a men. Even though I KNOW that most women in clubs are at least 2
points less attractive without the clothes and makeup, I still FEEL like they
are 2 points more. For some reason, my rationality can't override that primal
physical attraction to a pretty face even if it from makeup. And this matters a
lot, because that girl without makeup I would see as doing her a favor if we
hooked up (maybe she has a nice ass), but the girl on the right would
definitely give me some nervousness - BUT it is still the same unattractive
face under that makeup.
I've had this happen a couple of times the next morning. It
does feel like being deceived and if women think they can trick guys over their
value into seeing them more times, then they are dead wrong. It is an instant
pump and dump for me if I discover they manipulated me with makeup."
I'm sorry. What?!
If you feel deceived by a woman wearing makeup, that's your
problem.
I have a feeling that the men that read this will claim I'm
calling them out, but since I've seen quite a few comments like this from men,
that's the way it goes. I know that men typically don't know the first thing
about makeup, but many can tell when you're wearing a ton and when you're not.
If you are that easily duped into thinking this woman you're staring at has
perfect high cheekbones, flawless skin, eyelashes long enough to touch her
eyebrows and naturally luscious and glossy lips, then you're more gullible than
you think you are. It kills me that there are men that think women are so conniving that they stare in the mirrors as they get ready, making "corrections" to their faces in anticipation of snagging a man. Tell me that doesn't make you laugh.
What needs to be said.
If you start dating a woman, like her and then change your
mind when you see her without makeup, then I hope you get the love that you
deserve. Which is none.
"So why wear makeup if you're comfortable with
yourself?"
Because it's fun. Because it's artistry or a way to express
yourself. I think a lot of what is forgotten about makeup in general is that we
don't do it for you. It's not for you, it's not for your parents, it's not for
anyone else. It's for ourselves. Because we can. If we want to relate it back to societal views, who is anyone to say we should or shouldn't look a certain way?
My issue from the beginning is that people are claiming that the use of makeup is intended for other people. Men specifically. I do it for myself and I think almost every woman you ask will tell you the same. Everyone wants to feel better about themselves and the way
they look. Does that mean that wearing makeup makes you an insecure person? No.
Does it mean you're trying to transform yourself into a completely different
person? No, that's not it either. There is no negative connotation in wanting
to make your best features prominent. Honey, if someone, a MAN in particular,
tells you you're deceiving him because you're wearing makeup, you can send him
on over to me.
I love this! So smart and well thought out. I feel the same way, I love make up because it's fun and gives me a little boost. So what? I agree this doesn't make us shallow, and I'm certainly not trying to "deceive" any man.
ReplyDeleteAshley
Ashleyinafashion.blogspot.com
Thank you! We can all stick together on this one - it's fun and it's for us!
DeleteMakeup is just lying with your face
ReplyDeleteSo ... You can't read.
Deletebruh wtf of course makeup is catfishing bc you are hiding yo identity tf. taking care of your self like shaving or getting haircuts is just healthy habits not the same as makeup idgaf wht u say.......
ReplyDelete