1534 Should women be forced to wear make-up?

This is a subject that has resonated with me for about 5 years. Sadly, I experienced a workplace that forced me to wear makeup. What made it worse is there were other people I worked with that did not wear makeup, so how did they get away with it and I didn’t?

I would also get into trouble for asking others if they have been told to wear makeup. Ridiculous, I know. I understand looking presentable, but it wasn’t like I was turning up with dirt on my face, I just wasn’t wearing a full face of makeup. Now, I am a pale person, I have been told that a piece of paper is more tanned than me. (Don’t worry, I was not, and I am still not offended by this, I am aware it was a joke and I found it funny.) I was also once told I should wear a fake tan. My response was “No”, I get someone recommending trying fake tan but to be told I SHOULD wear it is just wrong. I am 99% positive that I was the only one being bullied into wearing makeup.

I don’t know the truth because I gave up on it in the end, but I do believe it was because of how pale I was that I would get into trouble if I didn’t wear makeup to work. I did think it was very unfair that I was forced to wear makeup and my colleagues didn’t have to, but they didn’t seem to care.

Now the company “uniform” in the way of make-up was natural everyday makeup. So, if I had some sort of makeup on my face, it shouldn’t have mattered right natural everyday makeup can be as little as mascara and eyebrows, or a bit of blush if it looks natural. Nope, it wasn’t enough for them. Unless my skin was covered in foundation, they weren’t happy.

I don’t know about you but when someone is telling you:

“You need to wear makeup”,

“Why haven’t you got makeup on today?”,

“Make sure you wear your makeup”

and there are others around you who do not have to wear it. That just screams that the person saying these things to you thinks that you are ugly, and you need to hide behind makeup. Which is wrong on all sorts of levels but to be hearing that as a teen/young adult can be so damaging and impact someone’s life a great deal. To be comfortable with the way you look and learn how to look after your skin properly is so crucial so if you are comfortable in my opinion no one has the right to comment on your appearance.

I was asked once “Would you want to be served by someone not wearing makeup?”. My answer to that is I would NOT care. If someone is comfortable not wearing makeup, who am I to tell them they should wear it or that they can’t serve me in a shop because they haven’t got a full face of makeup on? I understand looking professional, making sure you don’t smell of alcohol, making sure you haven’t got dirt on your clothes etc but wearing makeup doesn’t make someone look professional.

Another completely and utterly shocking thing I was told by working at the same shop. We wore the clothes as a “uniform” to promote the shop which is fair enough. We would be given a certain amount to spend twice and year. We would get given rules to follow, no denim, not this, not that, two people couldn’t have the same outfit etc. Now I am not a lover of dresses. The last dress I wore was to my sister’s wedding in 2018 and it was long and below my knees. I was forced to wear dresses, and even though it was visible I was uncomfortable wearing them and didn’t like them.

Anyway, that is my experience with a workplace not liking my pale skin and forcing me to wear makeup. It truly sucks. No one on this earth should be made to feel like they need to change something about their bodies. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind a bit of a tan in the summer but otherwise, I don’t have any problems showing my pale skin. (I practically glow in the dark). The only annoying thing I do hate is finding a foundation and bronzer that suits my skin, but hey, who doesn’t have trouble finding a foundation to match their skin?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate makeup and I do wear it, but I don’t wear it every day. I wear it to a formal event when I want to look a certain way, I might wake up one day and want to wear it, but I also might wake up the next day and not be bothered. I wear it when I want to wear it and I am so happy that my workplace, my friends, and my family couldn’t care less if I am wearing makeup or not.

So, my opinion on “Should women or men be forced to wear makeup” is as follows:

NO

My full answer is:

It should be down to the person. To quote the amazing and beautiful Hailee Steinfeld in her song called ‘Most Girls’ “Cause you look greatest when you feel like a damn queen” “But it's okay if you want to change the body that you came in”. If you as a human being are not happy with something about the way you look, don’t ask others. You make you happy, but make sure you are doing it for yourself and no one else.

No one should be forced to wear makeup, wear a tight dress, or wear baggy clothes, no one should be forced to do, say, or wear anything. As this was a more serious post, I asked a few of my friends and family for their opinions on this matter. Men and women of all ages ranging from 16 to 70.

Here are those opinions:

Lauren - I don’t have a view on it people should just do whatever they want.

Keeley - Not! It shouldn't be a requirement or a basis for someone's ability, however, a person should be free to wear it if they wanted.

Demi - I never wore it anyway. And only 1 female colleague wears makeup to my workplace.

Liz Grainger - Interesting subject. No woman should be made to wear makeup, it’s a personal choice. Some women feel they must because of their working environment. I’m a bank manager and I don’t wear makeup. no problems, where others have a full face on.

Anne – I think women should be allowed to wear (or not wear) what they are comfortable in. No one should be pressured into wearing makeup, in my opinion.

R****** - I think it should be optional. If you want to wear makeup wear it. If you don't, then don't

Robyn - My thoughts? I don’t think they should have to wear it if they don’t want to, it should be a choice if we aren’t comfortable. But to be forced to wear makeup seems unfair. It should be a choice. I also think it depends on what job; some jobs want them to wear makeup to promote their makeup business. But I do believe it should be what you want because it’s your skin.

Callum - There can be no justification for compelling anyone to wear cosmetics in any environment. Most workplaces will have a dress/appearance code officially and often there will be a reasonable expectation of certain standards of personal grooming/appearance however neither of these policies or expectations can include a requirement to use cosmetics.

Paige W– Of course not, that’s laughable. Not only would it be unenforceable. because you can’t specify what makeup. But also, who the **** would even try to enforce it? It takes away people’s rights.

Angelina - I don’t think a woman should have to, I think if they want to, they should be able to, I think it’s more about what they are comfortable in and what makes them feel good.

Monica – No it’s a matter of personal choice. Some women feel more confident in full makeup. Shouldn’t be worn at school, enough pressure there already.

Sharon – At work but it should be their choice!! They can if they want to!

Charlotte – Of course, nobody should have to do anything certainly not wear makeup, lots of people don’t wear any ever.

Mela – My thought is that, if the woman feels comfortable with makeup, she should wear it, but also if the woman feels comfortable not wearing makeup that is also OK!