Every day, millions of women across the United States (U.S.) find themselves in predicaments confronting the quality of their appearance. And their makeup. While this may seem a non-issue in the Emergency Medicine world, it is something that you, as a female professional, or that your female colleagues, have no doubt encountered. Before walking out the door, you have to consider not just what means of transport to take to work, but also what color of eyeshadow to wear (will this be too ostentatious?). You have to consider what to have for breakfast but also what shade of lipstick to don (Is this shade natural enough?). And you might have to consider what shoes to put on your children, in addition to deciding between the foundation or the bronzer? Makeup. You decide on whether to use it, how much to put on, what shades to wear, or not. And why so much of a fuss about makeup?
We can trace the history of makeup in the U.S. as far back as the early 20th century or before. And probably earlier in other cultures. At the turn of the century, women in this country were striving for a pale-skinned Edwardian look, telltale of a lifestyle safe from the sun. And where a tanned look was actually disfavored implying a lower class status. While the goals of a made up look may have changed over time, the struggle still remains.
Currently, $382 billion goes to the global beauty business sector annually, and the majority of that is spent by women. So why do women feel the need to spend so much? It is a classic case of the chicken and the egg. Some would argue that women can opt out of wearing makeup just as easily as they wipe off the lipstick from rosy lips at the end of each day. That is somewhat true. The media and entertainment industry (amongst other pressures) have told women that in order to be at their best, they need to wear makeup. A reminder of this being the constant bombardment of makeup advertisements, with new brands to fit every flavor everywhere you look, up to and including chocolate-based edible wares.
Furthermore, research has shown time and again that those perceived as better looking tend to fair better economically. Enter makeup. In a recent study by Mileva et al, they built on some of these notions, and found that amongst both women and men, women with makeup were perceived as more attractive, higher in dominance (by other women) and higher in prestige (by men). So while you may think that this is a choice granted solely to you or your female friends, think again. The odds are not in your favor. Society and industry around you wants us to buy makeup and use it whether we are innately choosing to or not.
On the other hand, I have female friends who are genuinely passionate about wearing makeup, and I laud them for this. My concern is the choice to enjoy it as a novelty rather than something one participates in being the path of least resistance. I empathize that we as women are running out the door, doing make up in our rear view mirrors, or in the bathroom at work before the day has even started with worries of its own.
I am acutely aware of this difference in my own day-to-day, since I have started to wear makeup, whereas not too many years ago, as a trainee specifically, there was no makeup. And I am still licking my wounds from the experience walking up to the MAC counter as a novice, sensing all kinds of judgment over my bare face from these contoured and tweezed artistes, “I… I… don’t usually wear a lot of makeup…” I managed to mumble, feeling sharply self aware, and with a non-reassuring, “mmhhh…” we got to work looking for some products.
So in a day and age when a female professional is judged based on her attire, hair being perfectly coiffed and her makeup, why do we expect there not to be disparities in macro issues like equal pay, hiring and promotion? These are outdated conversations for a progressive time, and unrealistic expectations when others should be taking priority.
I’m a successful retired physician. I never wore makeup to work. I didn’t want to mess with it, and I don’t like the symbolism. I’m from the bra burning era…so we burnt our bras but then we paint our faces?
Thanks, Dr. Grant: I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this. Do you feel that there has been a generational shift with regards to how women are viewed in terms of this idealistic (and unrealistic) age-defying standard, which implicitly includes the use of makeup? Open to your thoughts.
Sometimes I have thought that if I were to wear makeup (which I have noticed no female doctors in our group) I might be perceived as more feminine and “weak”. Once I decided to wear a tiny bit and male colleague said “look who walked in today, its the princess”. I sometimes feel that in the more male dominated fields makeup makes us look more feminine and more suspicious.
For me Makeup at work is the ultimate act of resistance. I take care of my self. Outer and inner self.
Even if tired or overworked. I demand to be taken seriously even with lipstick on. Listened to and not just looked at. As long as its not too distracting and fits the mood Im in.
Patients have the right to see my best face and not just my unplucked-dark eyebags -dried lips and achy tired skin. Men will just have to be impressed or suspicious and just deal with it.
I always end up getting to work with enough time for either coffee or make up.
Coffee wins every time!
About 2-3 years out of a no-makeup residency I was going to a Christmas party and while at the mall was invited to have my makeup done at one of their vendors. Having spent so much of my life in cerebral pursuits I welcomed the invitation to the makeup club. Is it weird, I always liked the result of it, but felt soooooo out of place trying to figure it out? I mean, I think I’m reasonably intelligent, but this ‘beauty’ thing was so foreign to me. What struck me the most was that the women doing the makeup immediately… Read more »