Makeup and feminism over time
- carolina cantillo
- Apr 5, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: May 10, 2024

Makeup and feminism have had a complex relationship over time, marked by significant changes in social perception and the evolution of feminist movements.
In the early decades of the 20th century, makeup was closely tied to societally imposed standards of beauty, which were often restrictive and oppressive to women. However, some feminists of the time argued that makeup could be a form of self-expression and a tool for empowerment, challenging gender conventions and reclaiming women's right to control their own image.
During the women's liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s, some feminists rejected makeup as a form of patriarchal oppression, arguing that it perpetuated unrealistic standards of beauty and subjected women to objectification. Other feminists, however, advocated individual choice and bodily autonomy, defending women's right to decide whether they wanted to wear makeup without being judged.

In the 1980s and 1990s, makeup became an empowering tool for many women, especially in the professional arena. The rise of feminist icons in popular culture, such as Madonna, promoted the idea that makeup could be a form of self-expression and self-affirmation, allowing women to assert their individuality and power in a male-dominated world.
Today, there is a greater diversity of opinions on makeup within the feminist movement makeup now empowers us and is part of feminism rather than against it. Some feminists criticize the makeup industry for its misleading advertising practices and unrealistic beauty standards, while others defend makeup as a valid form of self-expression and creativity. The key for many feminists is choice and autonomy, allowing women to decide how they want to present themselves to the world without being judged or coerced by societal gender norms.
I hope you enjoyed this blog and remember that "beauty and wisdom are two jewels that, when combined, create an incomparable treasure." See you in the next blog. Remember to leave a like, comment, and follow me on social media.




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