Do Guys Like More Or Less Makeup

Information technology was a harmless enough tweet: "Studies show that men like women who vesture less makeup."

Only this mail service, sent to the 1.4 1000000 Twitter users following Google Facts — an unverified "Google facts parody" business relationship which is unaffiliated with Google — was non well received by women on social media.

The backlash reignited debate over the merits of women's makeup application: should they, shouldn't they, and does it actually matter in the end either fashion?

And also: why are we fifty-fifty talking almost this?

Some men prefer women who habiliment less makeup — but so exercise some women

So permit's unpack the research. Beginning, it'south true studies accept shown some men prefer women who vesture less makeup — but and then do some women.

In a study published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology in 2014, researchers Alex Jones at Bangor University and Robin Kramer at Aberdeen Academy showed 44 male and female students a selection of images of women's faces, before and after diverse amounts of makeup were applied.

Female participants thought the models looked better with slightly more makeup than male person participants did. Interestingly, however, both male and female participants thought the models looked best when they were wearing merely threescore per cent of the makeup they had practical.

"Taken together, these results suggest that women are likely wearing cosmetics to appeal to the mistaken preferences of others," the researchers concluded. (Built into this assertion is that women do non wear cosmetics because they themselves like it.)

2nd, studies into what employers think of employees wearing makeup have institute women who wear makeup are treated more favourably and even earn more women who don't.

'The makeup tax'

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton standing at a podium. — President Barack Obama said he had an unfair advantage over Hillary Clinton in 2008 because she had to rise early on to "go her hair done".( Facebook: Hillary Clinton )

Research conducted by professors from Harvard and Boston Universities (and funded past cosmetics giant Proctor & Gamble) in 2011 constitute women who wore subtle amounts of makeup — as opposed to "gobs of Gaga-conspicuous makeup" — were perceived to be more than likeable, socially cooperative and attractive.

And a 2006 written report published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology establish participants awarded women wearing makeup with "a greater earning potential and with more prestigious jobs" than women who wore none.

It's a phenomenon Facebook staffer Libby Brittain dubbed "the makeup tax" in a Q&A session with presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton terminal twelvemonth.

"Every morning, as my boyfriend zips out the door and I spend thirty-plus minutes getting ready, I wonder about how the 'hair-and-makeup revenue enhancement' affects other women — particularly ones I admire in high-force per unit area, public-facing jobs," Brittain wrote to Ms Clinton.

"As a immature professional adult female, I'd genuinely dear to hear virtually how you manage getting ready each morning … while staying focused on the 'real' work ahead of you that twenty-four hour period."

Ms Clinton concluded up dodging the question. "Amen, sister," she replied. "Y'all're preaching to the choir. Information technology's a daily challenge. I practice the all-time I can — and as yous may have noticed, some days are better than others!"

A "challenge" indeed. During a 2012 visit to Bangladesh and India, Ms Clinton, so secretary of land, was photographed ostensibly without makeup on, simply for Fox News to accuse her of "forgetting" her makeup and looking "tired and withdrawn".

But Ms Clinton laughed information technology off, telling CNN: "You know at some point it's just not something that deserves a lot of time and attention."

Even President Barack Obama has picked up on this inequality, telling Politician recently he had an unfair advantage over Ms Clinton in the 2008 ballot because, "She had to wake up before than I did considering she had to become her hair done."

Equally did sometime Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, who rose extra early in the forenoon to endure an hr of face up-painting and hair-styling.

Maybe women wear makeup considering … they like it?

Mayhap women should care nearly the amount of makeup men prefer them to clothing, or how well-groomed employers desire them to be.

But the assumptions built into these studies are not so much offensive as they are risible — that women should be judged on how lilliputian or how much foundation and lipstick they habiliment, that they should be subjected to a level of scrutiny men are typically spared, suggests sexist social pressures are at work.

Author and journalist Caitlin Moran in he trademark winged eyeliner. — Author and announcer Caitlin Moran says women can wear makeup for whatever reason they similar.( Twitter: Caitlin Moran )

Has it non occurred to anyone that women are capable of dressing themselves? That perchance women article of clothing pants or skirts or dreadlocks or winged eyeliner because they similar it?

Certainly, for many women, putting on makeup is less of a chore or a (perceived) professional hindrance than a hobby.

Bronzing and beautifying is a choice, not an obligation — information technology's a creative outlet or a boost of confidence not necessarily related to men, or feminism, every bit they see information technology.

Every bit author and Caitlin Moran told Interview Magazine in 2014: "Basically, my belief is that if David Bowie can practise it [clothing makeup], I tin can exercise it.

"You can article of clothing makeup for whatever f---ing reason you want," Moran continued. "When you're wearing makeup, the thought isn't always to look like some kind of airbrushed beauty queen — if you want to, f---ing go for it — only you can look like something else instead."

In other words, you lot do you.

And as for whether or not men approve? Women's response to the offending Google Facts tweet says it all.

Posted 21 Mar 2016 Mon 21 Mar 2016 at 1:18am, updated 21 Mar 2016 Monday 21 Mar 2016 at 4:53am