On Make-Up

My only contention here with this video is that many norms of social behaviour from life in communities and relationships are felt by individuals to be forced upon them (e.g. the feeling that no make-up would be bad). I don't think these normas are in and of themselves 'bad' until they are imposed with force and coercion. I do think they can have a negative individual and social effect on a person's and society's mental health and behaviour. It does however necessitate a large degree of self confidence and hard work for women or men to present themselves in distinct contrast to the cultural norms of their location and retain a positive self image.

 There is daily huge pressure on both sexes and people of all genders to work within social, economic, political and legal systems that are not inclusive of their nuanced identity and often actively hostile to it. People are forced to hide behind masks - make-up being one of the methods. Sub-consciously wanting to look fertile may be a matter of evolution and hormones and sexual competition but make-up is just one of the ways that competition manifests itself.

 It is also not a recent phenomenon. It has, in our era, transformed into a tool for achieving the effect of what we currently regard as 'attractive' - its entirely normative. Our use of make-up today is a reflection of our interpretation of beauty. Rabbitwrite's final comment is positive and reinforced by her 'reveal' post-makeup-up removal.