Why We Need To Stop Caring What Men Think.
Yes, click bait title, I know. But I've grabbed your attention right?
On Monday, I was having a nosy at some of my favourite websites and stumbled across a post on Byrdie which was titled "What Men Really Think About Catwalk Beauty Looks" - now don't get me wrong, I'm not oblivious to the fact that "women's" fashion isn't just for women anymore but I'm so over the archaic idea that we need men's opinions on everything which suggests that we need their approval, harking back to patriarchal concepts. And I love Byrdie, it provides great informative articles on beauty products but when I come to read about the latest beauty looks, I don't want to see a website famed for it's #GirlBoss ethics, disregarding everything for the idea that we need male approval for everything.
Now I know you might be wondering what a Beauty Blogger has to say - but the thing is, I never wear makeup for men. I wear it for me, because lets be honest, there is nothing better than dressing for yourself.
With relation to the article, I fail to see why the "journalist" couldn't have looked at the every day view on these somewhat wild beauty looks - the everyday passerby's opinions on it - why does it have to be men? Perhaps I'm just barking up the wrong tree but for an article that I'm hoping was meant to be somewhat humorous, why not interview some kickass Grannies (a-la Iris Apfel) for their views? Now that would be amusing.
For years, Cosmopolitan magazine has been churning out articles like "What Men Think of Fashion" etc etc, which all continue to emphasise the idea that we dress for men, we wear makeup for men, that our lives centre around male approval. Believe me, they really don't. Fair enough if you have a significant other who likes a certain shade of lipstick, you might wear that colour for their birthday or a special occasion but not on a day to day basis. It's just not something that modern women take into account, so why do magazines keep thinking we do?
In the day of the internet, it's hard not to come across a slam piece over such articles so I really fail to understand why they're still being written as a serious piece? The issue is not just the effect upon today's women, it's the image it projects upon young girls who may just have an interest in makeup, does it not influence them to make them think they need to wear certain makeup for men? In a society where there are enough gender biases, we need to watch what is being projected further. We certainly don't need articles like these from female powerhouses.
So, to all online publications out there, don't do it for us, do it for the little girl who just likes pretty pictures of makeup. She doesn't need the thought that she has to wear a certain colour of lipstick or eyeshadow just because a man likes it. Protect her from these views that we were subjected to.
What do you think of such matters? A bit of fun or not worth it?