A week ago Sunday, Alicia Keys attended the annual MTV Video Music Awards. She spurred headlines for foregoing makeup on the red carpet. Though many supported Keys, she received considerable backlash via Twitter for her decision. Women and men alike tweeted at Keys to tell her she looked unprofessional and just plain bad; some even went on to suggest makeup products that she could use to improve her appearance. Keys is one of many celebrities who have decided to not wear makeup and have been criticized for it. Her decision raises many debates regarding the status of makeup in relation to professionalism and beauty standards in America, but ultimately the choice of whether to wear makeup should be a woman’s own and societal pressures should have no impact on her decision.
Keys originally stated her intention to forego makeup in an article on Lenny Letter. She wrote about the growing anxiety she felt throughout her career when she refused to wear makeup. She became afraid to leave the house without some sort of cosmetic on because she was scared of public backlash related to her natural appearance. Keys’ fears are shared by many women in America and around the world each time they leave their homes. Particularly in the age of social media, American women are connected now more than ever with high standards of cosmetic beauty. On the photo-driven social network Instagram, there is constant access to photos of models and celebrities who are considered the standard of beauty.
As a result of these social networks and the prevalence of models as social media celebrities, Americans have become more entrenched in the idea of “beauty standards.” Keys was bashed by many women who called her “haggard” and stated her decision was “annoying” but, in the end, her success has nothing to do with her decision not to wear makeup. She is famous because of her singing talent and her decision to forego makeup has nothing to do with her professionalism. Many of the negative comments and tweets insinuate that a woman’s professionalism is defined by her decision to wear makeup. In modern society, it is unfortunate that we believe this to be true.
A 2011 Harvard study examined the relationship between makeup, beauty and professionalism. Women were made up and photographed with various beauty looks from bare faces to heavy makeup and, in the end, the study found that women who wear more makeup were viewed as more competent. Though the study is fascinating, it illustrates many of the faults of our nation's standards of beauty. Why is a woman’s competence associated with her makeup or lack thereof? Though appearance is often associated with professionalism, this has to do with a clean, put-together appearance with business clothing — not what a woman is wearing on her face. Women should be able to make the choice for themselves without feeling that a decision to go bare faced will negatively affect their professional environment.
The Harvard study also suggested some women feel more confident while wearing makeup. This suggestion was explored in another study by the University of New Hampshire in a thesis paper about the cosmetic industry’s effect on women. The thesis brought together several different studies on the relationship between makeup and confidence and it ultimately determined makeup is associated with making oneself more beautiful, which leads to higher levels of confidence. The author suggested, however, that unrealistic advertisements by the cosmetic industry have created unnaturally higher standards of beauty and appearance for women and this caused women to want to wear more makeup to cover up perceived “flaws.” The beauty industry has conditioned women to believe that they have to wear makeup to be confident and professional when really, the choice should be a woman’s own.
If makeup makes a woman feel more confident, she should be free to wear it as she wishes. Keys made it clear her decision to forego makeup was not to force other women into foregoing cosmetics, but rather to show she decided to live how she was comfortable and that others should do the same. No woman, however, should be made to feel that their decision to wear or not wear makeup reflects on their ability to do their job. Keys’ situation illustrates this, as she is equally competent and successful, with or without makeup. Women in America should be free to follow Keys’ lead and wear — or not wear — the makeup that makes them feel the most confident.
Carly Mulvihill is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at c.mulvihill@cavalierdaily.com.
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