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THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY AND RADICAL FEMINISM:
Radical feminism is an political and social movement defined by specific ideology that encourages critical thinking and subversion of patriarchal structures; in order to be a radical feminist, you have to agree with that ideology.
Radical feminism is an political and social movement defined by specific ideology that encourages critical thinking and subversion of patriarchal structures; in order to be a radical feminist, you have to agree with that ideology.
Why? Because it is the basis for radical feminism. It's the same as not calling yourself a communist unless you've read up on your theory and agree with the outlined beliefs of what communism is, and what its intended influence is/its history/the beliefs of its creators/etc.
Now; one of the key ideals of radical feminism is the critique of the beauty industry. This is because the beauty industry and, subsequently, beauty standards, were implemented by the patriarchy. The beauty industry targets women as the vast majority of consumers.
Our human features are turned into flaws. These same features are allowed to exist on men without consequence. But there are professions where makeup is a necessity in order to not be let go. This is the negative impact of the beauty industry, and women suffer for it.
The majority of the people that profit from female insecurity in the form of the beauty system are males. Andrea Dworkin said on the beauty industry, "Standards of beauty describe in precise terms the relationship that an
individual will have to her own body.
individual will have to her own body.
They proscribe her mobility, [think
high heeled shoes, tight skirts] spontaneity, posture, gait, the uses to which she can put her body. They define precisely the dimensions of her physical freedom."
high heeled shoes, tight skirts] spontaneity, posture, gait, the uses to which she can put her body. They define precisely the dimensions of her physical freedom."
You can read more on this if you look up:
Sheila Jeffreys speaks on Woman Hating, Beauty and Misogyny at the Andrea Dworkin Commemorative Conference, April 7,
2006.
Sheila Jeffreys speaks on Woman Hating, Beauty and Misogyny at the Andrea Dworkin Commemorative Conference, April 7,
2006.
Subscribing to the beauty industry is subscribing to a patriarchal institution. However, that does not make one not a feminist - in a patriarchal society, it can be unavoidable at times. Whether you wear makeup in order to keep your job or to love yourself:
You must remain critical of the pillars on which the industry is maintained. If you wear makeup for your own pleasure, you should still be able to think critically - wonder if your reasons for wearing it are influenced by subtle cultural patterns.
Recognise that despite your personal enjoyment, the industry has always been and will likely remain as an oppressive system.
You can see this oppression and the consequences of shirking beauty industries and standards demonstrated by the brave women of South Korea with their 'Escape the Corset' movement. https://www-cnn-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cnn.com/style/amp/south-korea-escape-the-corset-intl/index.html?amp_js_v=a3&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=15997829875360&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fstyle%2Farticle%2Fsouth-korea-escape-the-corset-intl%2Findex.html
๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐ช๐จ๐๐จ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ฅ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐๐๐ก๐จ. ๐ ๐๐ข ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐.
Radical feminism does not consider every action a feminist action. It considers every action that subverts patriarchal norms and systems a feminist action. Partaking in beauty standards and the beauty industry does not subvert the patriarchy, and is not a feminist action.
A critique of these things is not a personal attack. This thread is not intended to be a personal attack. It is an explanation of radical feminist beliefs. It is to demonstrate the importance of being critical of systems that have done severe damage to women.
I'll shut up now, but let me know if this doesn't make sense! I can go on sometimes, but this was a fair bit of research - thanks for listening to me ramble
