Sfdebris.net

I'm not objecting to anything in the article except one relatively minor thing. Mostly I'm just thinking out loud (well, the equivalent when typing).

My sole solid objection is to this bit from the article:

This attitude appeared to be having an impact on women’s confidence, as two thirds of female staff said they would feel much less confident if they were at a high-level meeting without cosmetics on.

The article assumes a cause and effect relationship between how bosses view women's makeup at meetings and how women feel about makeup at meetings, but I've heard more than one women say that makeup makes them feel more confident in general.

Now to the thinking out loud part. Men are probably going to be judged on how they dress, not having mussy hair, etc. As will women. It sounds as though this isn't a "women are the only ones put upon to have a certain appearance" situation that I suspect the article tries to portray when it says, "Whether rightly or wrongly, British bosses clearly think that keeping up appearances at work is an important factor for female staff if they want to get on in their career."

But it is an additional step that women have to do to keep up appearances that men don't, which is still unfair, though I think not uniquely tied to the office.

Right. It's just that women have all the same expectations plus makeup, and the standard for an attractive, that is "professional" looking woman is a lot higher than the bar set for men.

You are putting the cart before the horse. People have the expectation of women trying to make themselves more attractive via makeup, because women make themselves more attractive via makeup all the time. It's a self-imposed problem.

No it really isn't.

Oh yes, it is.

I agree, yes it is.
It reminds me of these women who wonder why/moan about breasts being sexualised even though it is not men who are contributing to the billion dollar a year plastic surgery and push-up bra industries. It is easier to blame others for your problems though, that's the thing.

Whether or not women or men are contributing to the push-up bra industries is irrelevant. Those women complaining about sexualized breasts are likely not those to wear them, and have every right to complain about how unfair that is.

Aside from women who participate in the cosmetic getup, bosses "saying it would have a detrimental effect on the woman’s promotion prospects," is telling. I'm having a little more trouble rationalizing that than the sentence before it saying that "[a]lmost half (49%) surveyed said it would be a major factor in their decision if the position was in sales or was a public-facing role in the company."

And yet, maybe they do so only because they know they'll never attract anyone that way because they know most people are hopelessly superficial, that it is ingrained into our society. So don't blame them, blame society!