There are a group of women that tend to look down on any woman who takes her looks seriously, and I wonder why. I for one, love to look good, and I appreciate beautiful things. I love my makeup, my hair extensions and wigs, my nice clothes, shoes and bags, and I love experimenting with various beauty treatments. So does that make me a feminist or a non feminist?
I think every woman has the potential to be a stunner, with the right clothes, accessories and makeup. I also believe, some women are natural stunners, so they do not have to try as hard as others, but I don’t see women who take the time to wear makeup, and nice clothes as non feminists, just like I don’t see women that do not put on makeup or trendy clothes as feminists. Fashion and feminism can go hand in hand, but they don’t have to.
However, every now and again, I come across a blog post, comment, or a magazine article, that makes me wonder why so many women have a problem with fashion or beauty. I wonder why they have this hostile relationship with anything fashion or beauty related, with the passive aggressive remarks like – ‘I don’t have time for makeup, I have no interest in fashion, I hardly get dressed these days, I am a feminist, I don’t have any desire to be beautiful or desired by men, I am a feminist, I don’t need to have my body hairs permanently taken off’, I can go on and on with the funny remarks I read everywhere, and you will be still be reading this post for hours. These funny remarks make me wonder, so this post is all about me wondering out aloud, forgive me.
Fashion and feminism have a lot in common, and at the same time have nothing in common, it depends on you and how you see things. I believe they have a lot in common. I am a feminist but I am also a fashion and beauty enthusiast. I hardly have makeup on most days, or have my hair styled (disclosure: typing this post in my pyjamas), but I appreciate stylish clothes and beauty, and I love looking good. I won’t go to an event without looking my best, I take delight in looking good.
So if there is a new pair of leggings that will provide tummy control, and support, I will wear it, if I need to get my teeth whitened, I will, like I have done before (actually I need a top up soon), if there is a laser hair removal treatment to get rid of body hairs, I will have it done, and I am currently having it done, because I CAN.
Another issue I have noticed recently, is the hate most feminists have for reality stars and shows. Being a feminist does not mean you are not allowed to like reality shows. I see many women ashamed to say they watch TOWIE or Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and I am like why? I watch both programs and I find them quite interesting most of the time, doesn’t make me a black bimbo, because I am nothing like that.
The issue with feminists that hate fashion and beauty related things, is the fact that they are torn between the two – what they want and what men don’t. In their heads, the whole idea of being a feminist, is being equal to men, all around. So most men are not interested in makeup or beauty, so they are not interested, most men don’t watch reality shows, so they don’t watch them, most men are usually hairy on the body, body hairs are considered a masculine trait, so many do not bother taking them off, so our feminist sisters also refuse to have theirs taken off, and look down on those who do.
For clarification, a feminist is a woman seeking to achieve equal political, economic, cultural, personal and social rights for women.
Being a feminist has nothing to do with your personal taste in fashion, style or beauty, it has nothing to with programs you like watching, or books you like reading. It has nothing to do with your background, education, sexual orientation or your hobbies.
Fashion and beauty is seen by many as fun and frivolous, and it is kind of, while feminism is seen as a serious cause. They are both separate movements that have nothing to do with each other, except you want them to.
I am a feminist, and I am a fashion/beauty conscious woman. I do not need to hate on fashion, to demonstrate a commitment to the feminist cause and neither should you. Whether you hate on these beautiful things I love, for the right or wrong reasons, it does not make you anymore of a feminist, like it does not make me anymore of a feminist for loving them.
