Makeup. Just Makeup.
We all want to look good cause when you look good, you feel even better. This applies to all of us: male, female, neither, or both. Makeup is an instrument of ultimate expression and enhancement. It has evolved to become solely characterised by womanhood, sparking conversations around gender and the likes. In this short expert, I take a deep dive into the evolution of makeup and the significant strides taken by our generation to separate it from gender.
The history of makeup is long, dating back to 3000 BC in different parts of the world. It was most prevalent among men in countries such as China, Japan, Egypt, and various parts of Europe. Made from natural ingredients, pigments were used to stain lips, cheeks, and even nails as a sign of status and wealth. The famous cat eye look can be traced back to ancient Egypt, with men wearing it for spiritual and ritual significance while also showing their high standing in society.
In recent years, some men have been wearing makeup as a sign of rebellion and nonconformity to counteract the negativity and stigma. From harsh black eyeliner looks sotted by emo core to the now trendy sparkly eye look heavily used in the fan favourite series Euphoria. Men are reclaiming and reforming the meaning of masculinity and what it truly means to be considered a man, apart from how you choose to present yourself to the world.
But how did we get here? Why is makeup viewed as the ultimate symbol of femininity today? With gender becoming more fluid and non-binary mindsets rising, makeup is following in the same footsteps. Male K-Pop artists such as the A-List group BTS are among many men on the world stage embracing make up and using it to accentuate their looks. An article written by David Yi for Esquire in 2021 tells us in great detail about this group’s impact on Western masculinity standards. This article also highlights the norms of men in makeup in cities like Seoul and Busan. For these individuals, wearing makeup has nothing to do with their sexuality but rather an outward expression of how they see themselves and want to be perceived.
This is the same for Ashwin May, popularly known as thefairybitchmother. His journey with makeup began in 2018 when a friend did his face, leading him to start slaying his own makeup in 2021. “Makeup makes me feel like me. I always used to hide myself from people. Then I came to a point where I didn’t want to be worried about people’s perception of me anymore. Since then, I’ve taken makeup as a tool to express myself and my artistry. I am a creative after all”, proclaimed Ash, as he sat across the room, letting his hand perform magic on his face. His signature look is colourfully striking and has to have a dramatic sharp wing. He describes it as Cunty. “Its ultimate confidence and fierceness. It’s like “bow down to me” in a respect-the-greatness kind of way”.
Ash comments on people using makeup to rebel against social norms, stating, “There are so many different kinds of men and women out there. Sticking to one ideal is counterintuitive and plain stupid. We should all be given an opportunity to subscribe to the type of people we want to be on our own terms. So, by all means, use makeup as a fuck you to society.”
want to be on our own terms. So, by all means, use makeup as a fuck you to society.”
For men, women, and non-binary individuals, makeup is a tool to bond with themselves and who they are. The conversation about stripping gender away from makeup is long and may take more time and space than I have here, but it is indispensable. It opens up debates and leads us down many wormholes (which may go nowhere or somewhere, depending on your views), but my stance is clear: let people do as they please.
