We were asked several questions from the surrounding area about our opinions on makeup and why we believe makeup is inherently feminist. But really, in what way is makeup usage only constricted to feminists? There's this really handsome friend of mine that wears it just because he says that "it makes him feel like someone who can handle whatever life throws at him".
What are your ages?
Anna: Eighteen.
Alexis: Nineteen.
Do you wear makeup, and if so, how often?
Anna: I'm not the type of girl to wear makeup every day, but I do from time to time if the need arises: if I'm going out and want to make a good impression on those around me, or if I'm supposed to be going on a stage for whatever reason.
Alexis: I wear makeup fairly often; it's normally part of my daily routine unless I'm running late. It's something that I take a lot of solace in doing - it's my "me time", ya know?
How does makeup make you feel?
Anna: It kind of makes me feel prettier, I guess. Like I said, I'm not the type to put it on every day, and even if I do put some on it's only mascara and eyeliner. It makes me feel like I look less of a mess when I draw on my face.
Alexis: Great. I have so much pride in makeup that I took time in doing, makeup makes me feel more confident not because of how others perceive me, but because I took that time to make myself look great.
Do you think makeup hides insecurity?
Anna: I mean, I guess it depends on who the person is. The same reason that I wear makeup may not be the same reason that Alexi wears it, but what does it really matter? Everyone is beautiful, even though they may not see it without a little help from the pretty dirt or the pretty clothes or whatever they feel comfortable with.
Alexis: For some people, sure. But what's wrong with that? For me, it's not necessarily to hide insecurity, I'm not insecure with how I look, but I enjoy how I look with makeup. Saying makeup is only used to hide insecurity is like saying people only wear cute clothes because they want people to notice them - there's an aspect for yourself, too.
How do you feel about society's view on makeup?
Anna: What does it matter to other people what I decide to do with my body? Whether it be makeup, tattoos, or piercings, how does my decisions impact you in any way, shape, or form? It's like when people post those pictures on social media of a girl with only half of her face done with makeup and usually in big text somewhere, a person has written "THIS IS WHY I HAVE TRUST ISSUES." No, it's not. You have trust issues because your mother never held you enough as a child and you don't know who your father is. You're just upset because a woman feels good about herself, and you are so miserable in your life that you feel the need to make others feel bad too.
Alexis: Total bullshit. Makeup is not something inherently feminine that makes me try to be accepted into today's society, I don't do my makeup so people will like me. I do makeup because it's something I enjoy doing. My intelligence and wit shouldn't be correlated that I rock a bomb ass lipstick.
So, makeup actually makes you feel good?
Anna: I guess so, or else I wouldn't own an eyeliner pencil and a tube of mascara.
Alexis: Yes.
But some say wearing makeup means you're conforming to a patriarchal society!
Anna: Are we not past such trivial bullshit like the patriarchy?
Alexis: I'm not sacrificing my independence by using a beauty blender. Feminism isn't about stopping others from making the choice of wearing makeup, it's being allowed to make the choice to wear makeup or not because you're not forced to. It's freedom to choose, and I am just as much of a feminist as I was before my foundation and fake eyelashes.
What would you say to the people out there who don't use makeup?
Anna: I would say "you do you". Choose to do what makes you happy, not what conforms to other people's standards of what you should look like. If you decide to go out tomorrow wearing no makeup, a bright orange t-shirt, and the world's ugliest pair of purple shorts, then you do you. If that's your favorite outfit, and it makes you feel good, who am I to judge you?
Alexis: You do you, boo! It's totally cool if you do or if you don't, so long you don't criticize those who do and vice versa.
Anything else you would like to say?
Anna: Yeah, Alexis made me eat gross jellybeans.
Alexis: I don't think what I spread on my face should be anyone's business but mine. So, you do you, boo! Put on that lipstick, or don't. There is beauty in choice. My body, my choice.
Also, she's just mad she picked the earthworm jellybean.
