Imzy
  • Discover communities
  • Log In
  • Sign up
  • Home
  • Discover communities
  • Log In
  • Sign up
  • About
  • Learn More
  • Contact
  • Community Policy
  • FAQ
  • Sitemap
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play
Copyright © 2017 Saurus, Inc. All rights reserved.
Lenny Letter

Lenny Letter

Dismantling the Patriarchy, One Newsletter At a Time.

751 members
Posted byLennyLetterin/lenny-Jun 01, 2016 at 8:33 AMΔ

Alicia Keys: Time to Uncover

Alicia Keys: Time to Uncover

lennyletter.com
One comment
  • AnonnnnJun 06, 2016 at 1:29 PM

    I've seen everyone gushing about this but I'm really not feeling it.

    For one thing, every person I see gushing about the NoMakeUp challenge are still using methods that help hide or minimize their "flaws". For example, even in this very article, Alicia may not be wearing makeup, but she had her photo taken in very favorable poses and lighting. Some people really underestimate how much good lighting can affect the outcome of your photos. She isn't the only one who has done this, tons of "bare" celebrities post photoshoots and talk about how beautiful they feel, all while neglecting to mention that their photographer used soft lighting to make their skin look better, or harsher lighting to hide acne, wrinkles, etc. This is very misleading to the girls and women who look at these "raw" and "bare" photos and think that what they are seeing is reality.

    Another problem I have with this mindset is that, in addition to proper lighting and having traditionally decent skin/features, I see lots of people that support this measure are still using photoshop or instagram filters. What is the point of giving up makeup if you're just going to use digital means to erase imperfections or highlight your favorite features? It is actually worse, IMO, because some of the women are creating looks that could never ever be reality, even with surgery or the best makeup artist.

    For a third thing, most women I see proudly forgoing makeup also tend to be traditionally good looking. I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all of that, but there are also cultural norms that we cannot ignore. It is obviously going to be much easier for someone to give up makeup if they have traditionally decent skin or facial features compared to the person who has a ton of acne scars, red blotches, or very baggy eyes. I am not saying that Alicia or anyone else who supports this can't feel ugly, but it's hard to take their support seriously when they are blessed with less serious "flaws".

    This is especially harder to take seriously when one considers how some people need makeup just to be able to get a job or to not make other people uncomfortable. It's a sad reality that society judges people on their looks, but for now that is true. Alicia and others can preach all they want about how positive and empowering this is, but let us be realistic for a second and realize that even the nicest people do not like seeing someone with really horrible skin. They can deny it all they want, but I have seen it first hand with my friend that had horrible acne and red skin. People wouldn't even look at her in the eyes... until she started wearing makeup.

    This brings me to my final problem with this message. This campaign seems to be sending criticism to the wrong person. Makeup can be fun, and people have different reasons for doing it. While I will admit that a good chunk of people wear makeup to cover imperfections or to look better/younger, there are also people that wear it for fun or other social reasons. There are women, like my friend, that have to wear it if they want to keep their job and make their customers comfortable. There are people, such as trans women, who wear makeup to make themselves feel more aligned with their gender, or to "pass" as a woman for safety reasons. Then there are people who wear makeup as an art form, or men who like makeup and want to wear it, even though society tells them not to.

    There are criticism to be had about makeup, but the bigger issue is not the makeup itself. It is instead how society pressures women to have impossible beauty standards while at the same time shaming anyone who doesn't fit those standards. It is also a problem of capitalism and greedy companies that know they can make billions of dollars if they convince women that their self-worth is directly tied to how they look, and if they are unhappy with how they look, well, they can look better if they waste money and time on beauty products.

    I understand Alicia's frustration with feeling like we have to look perfect, and I don't think her message is entirely bad. But I don't think it's as great as others are portraying it to be, either. This problem is bigger than makeup, and it won't be solved with not wearing it. These problems will not be solved until we, as a society, come together and end not only sexism, misogyny, racism, etc., but we also have to realize that capitalism is a huge factor as well. Greedy corporations will continue to invent or exploit our insecurities in order to keep their business booming.

    This includes positive messages too... for example, do you think companies like Dove really care about body positivity, or are they just cashing in on current trends? Some will say it doesn't matter since the message is good, but keep in mind these companies also own other companies that go against their "positive" messages, so it's not really helping anything in the long run. It's just a way to keep us buying their products while we remain okay with greedy companies that exploit us and use horrible business practices that keep us and third world countries poor.

    Beyonce, who has been on a feminism and empowerment kick lately, is another example of this. While she says "Girls run the world" and talks about how girls are beautiful, etc., she is simultaneously keeping women from third world countries in poverty by having them manufacture her "Ivy Park" brand clothes.
    Does Beyonce care about feminism and social justice causes? I think she does. But I think it is also very obvious that her perspective is skewed and she is only interested in feminism and social justice in ways that affect her and the people that buy her brand, not women as a whole. Her videos have good messages, yes, but they are also giant advertisements meant to further her brand and social status.

    Even Alicia's letter felt like an advertisement for her new album ("My album is raw so my face had to be too!"). I'm sure she has good intentions, but in the end, these are privileged people that either can't see how their message is not applicable to the average person, or they are savvy business people who know how to keep us buying their products without feeling guilty or exploited.

Lenny Letter

Lenny Letter

Dismantling the Patriarchy, One Newsletter At a Time.

751 members
  • About
  • Sitemap
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright © 2017 Saurus, Inc. All rights reserved.