# Why do women generally wear makeup and men generally do not wear makeup?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 22, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011 "2013-01-22T15:50:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@TopTom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TopTom)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/1 "2013-01-22T15:50:35Z")
Why do women generally wear makeup and men generally do not wear makeup?
Tom,
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### Author:  [@Weeping\_Wyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeping_Wyvern)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/2 "2013-01-22T16:10:50Z")
I don’t know what’s caused it, but our culture makes people think that the unadorned female body is inferior to the unadorned male body, and I think this is by far the worst form of “sexism” in the Western world today.
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### Author:  [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/3 "2013-01-22T16:27:46Z")
> [@Weeping\_Wyvern](#):
>
> I don’t know what’s caused it, but our culture makes people think that the unadorned female body is inferior to the unadorned male body, and I think this is by far the worst form of “sexism” in the Western world today.
Who thinks that? I don’t think anyone. It’s just an offshoot of gender differences in attraction; men don’t need to appear more youthful because women don’t care, so why bother with makeup? Similarly, is it sexist that a man with no money is considered inferior to a woman with no money? That term gets thrown around way too much.
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### Author:  [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/4 "2013-01-22T16:36:53Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#):
>
> Similarly, is it sexist that a man with no money is considered inferior to a woman with no money? That term gets thrown around way too much.
I think that is an example of sexism though. And it’s sexist that our society sends the message that women need to be wearing makeup simply to look presentable.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/5 "2013-01-22T16:40:22Z")
Because makeup on men makes them look like women.
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/6 "2013-01-22T16:42:10Z")
> [@CatherineZeta](#):
>
> I think that is an example of sexism though. And it’s sexist that our society sends the message that women need to be wearing makeup simply to look presentable.
It’s not something unique to “our society.” Women have been adorning themselves and seeking to look young since time immemorial. Youthful appearance in women, and power/status/wealth for men is in general a major attraction across all cultures, for obvious evolutionary and survival purposes.
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### Author:  [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/7 "2013-01-22T16:44:53Z")
Because men would rather spend the money on beer than makeup.
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### Author:  [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/8 "2013-01-22T16:48:17Z")
Because they’re ugly.
Another tip: They wear perfume because they smell bad.
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### Author:  [@Weeping\_Wyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeping_Wyvern)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/9 "2013-01-22T17:08:12Z")
> [@MLS](#):
>
> It’s not something unique to “our society.” Women have been adorning themselves and seeking to look young since time immemorial. Youthful appearance in women, and power/status/wealth for men is in general a major attraction across all cultures, for obvious evolutionary and survival purposes.
But makeup doesn’t make women look “youthful”, in my opinion. It makes them look gross and ridiculous.
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### Author:  [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/10 "2013-01-22T17:32:15Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> Because makeup on men makes them look like women.
Only if they want it to. All actors wear makeup at work. Men should be able to wear artfully and subtly applied makeup, just as women do. In both instances, too much is too much and detracts and distracts.
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/11 "2013-01-22T17:33:31Z")
> [@Weeping\_Wyvern](#):
>
> But makeup doesn’t make women look “youthful”, in my opinion. It makes them look gross and ridiculous.
Properly done makeup does. The fact that some women don’t do it well doesn’t mean that’s not an underlying and possibly subconscious goal, along with appearing healthy.
Generally speaking, makeup is expected to hide skin flaws, wrinkles and blemishes, giving the appearance of health and youth. Eyes are emphasized, reminiscent of the relatively large eyes of children. Lips and cheeks are made more red or pink, again indicators of youth and health, possibly of sexual arousal.
I agree that there are definitely women who take it to the extreme, and I share your opinion that this is gross and ridiculous. I also know women who on an everyday basis don’t appear to be wearing very much makeup at all, but who look very nice, and who actually ARE wearing makup, just doing it well.
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### Author:  [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/12 "2013-01-22T17:37:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> Because makeup on men makes them look like women.
The makeup that women do accentuates feminine facial characteristics. It is quite easy to do masculine makeup: a little foundation for evening skin tone, a line of shadow under the jawline to sharpen it, brown eyeliner tightlined around the eye and so on.
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### Author:  [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/13 "2013-01-22T17:46:16Z")
I think, as said upthread, its most related to evolution because its common in most societies, not just Western culture. Women are considered attractive and desirable if they’re youthful and healthy. Makeup, if properly applied, will make a woman look younger and healthier. For men, that’s less important, whereas money, status, strength, are often going to be more important because those confer advantages onto offspring. As said, I suppose it’s possible that men could do makeup to confer youth, health, and strength, and some cultures do that, but I’d also guess it’s more difficult and less effective, which is why it hasn’t caught on to the same degree.
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### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/14 "2013-01-22T18:23:21Z")
Wait. Other men don’t wear makeup? Oh, okay.
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/15 "2013-01-22T19:03:46Z")
It’s simply a matter of fashion; men in other cultures have worn makeup/facepaint/etc. In a hundred years men in our culture might all be walking around looking like [KISS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_%28band%29#Makeup_designs) for all we know.
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### Author:  [@TopTom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TopTom)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/16 "2013-01-22T19:41:56Z")
To all, I am interested in the how the human form looks, as well as being interested in people’s feelings regarding the attractiveness of the human form. By human form I not only mean the body, but also the face and hair. This is why I started this thread and why I started the thread “Does “Shadism” and “Colorism” exist?” on the “Great Debates” board. One of the things I believe is that what people find attractive is determined, to a degree, by the society and culture one is brought up in, although I also believe that people are born disposed to find some things more attractive than others. It is a little like language. I believe that people are born disposed to be able to and to want to talk, but that the actual words are all determined by society.
It seems to me that the fact that in most, if not all, complex cultures, currently and in the past, women were treated as second class citizens (in some cultures more than in others) has something to do with how women are judged, in regard to attractiveness, as compared to men and also has something to do with the efforts women engage in to be attractive as compared to men. So, I feel that women being treated as second class citizens in most or all complex cultures has something to do with women now generally wearing makeup and men generally not wearing makeup.
Tom,
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/17 "2013-01-22T19:57:36Z")
> [@TopTom](#):
>
> So, I feel that women being treated as second class citizens in most or all complex cultures has something to do with women now generally wearing makeup and men generally not wearing makeup.
Except that patriarchal cultures have had men with facial decoration. It’s just present day fashion.
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### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/18 "2013-01-22T20:04:53Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Except that patriarchal cultures have had men with facial decoration. It’s just present day fashion.
Seriously. Look at how much kohl the pharaohs used in dynastic Egypt.
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### Author:  [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/19 "2013-01-22T20:29:00Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#):
>
> Seriously. Look at how much kohl the pharaohs used in dynastic Egypt.
Or in the Sun King’s French court.
Or for a more timely example, check out the many many buzzfeeds questioning whether or not President Obama wore “bronzer” on his face for his inaguration yesterday.
Similarly, lots of men color their hair, or even color it strategically grey because their natural patterns aren’t what they want.
Makeup can be applied artfully to emphasize “masculine” features just as well as “feminine” ones, and I have a feeling that lots of male actors or public figures wear makeup much more frequently than people suspect.
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### Author:  [@TopTom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TopTom)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-generally-wear-makeup-and-men-generally-do-not-wear-makeup/648011/20 "2013-01-22T21:13:20Z")
Der Trihs, DrFidelius and Lasciel, there are many reasons why someone might wear “makeup.” It is my understanding that Egyptians used eye makeup as a protection from the glare of the sun and men might where “makeup” to appear frightening in battle, but I feel that neither of those are the reasons why women now generally wear makeup and men now generally do not wear makeup. I continue to feel that women now generally wear makeup and men generally now don’t wearing makeup for reasons connected with women being treated as second class citizens in most or all complex cultures. Further, I did not say that women always wear makeup now and that men never wear makeup now, there are many factors involved, but again I feel an important factor deals with women being treated as second class citizens in most or all complex cultures. Lastly just saying “It’s just present day fashion,” does not answer my question, which could be stated as why it is present day fashion.
Tom,
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